tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171441777518705072017-12-13T08:17:33.804-06:00Bookalicious Babe Book Reviews"She is too fond of books and it has addled her brain." --Louisa May AlcottSue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.comBlogger644125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-33381195986703953392017-12-12T07:45:00.001-06:002017-12-12T07:45:38.377-06:00Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9xdYYb6SVXs/Wi_ZAEqexdI/AAAAAAAAFGY/Gz--3pfVDGACebiWZym1-vytTKr8DYVBgCLcBGAs/s1600/34066619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9xdYYb6SVXs/Wi_ZAEqexdI/AAAAAAAAFGY/Gz--3pfVDGACebiWZym1-vytTKr8DYVBgCLcBGAs/s400/34066619.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this, the third and final novel of the Little Beach&nbsp;Street Bakery, Christmas is coming to the village of Mount Polbearne. &nbsp;Mount Polbearne is an unusual village set on the coast of Cornwall; when the tide comes in, the only road leading to and from the village is covered by the sea, and it becomes a little island. &nbsp;Windy, cold, and oftentimes isolated, it's a village where generations of fishing families have lived, and tourists visit during the summer. &nbsp;Polly's bakery is still in full swing, and as popular as ever. &nbsp;She's living with Huckle, her beekeeping boyfriend in the lighthouse she bought earlier in the year. &nbsp;They're engaged. &nbsp;Life is good.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But we all know that when life&nbsp;seems at its most stable, we're often thrown a curve, and that's just what happens to Polly. &nbsp;Huckle wants to get married and&nbsp;have kids; Polly's fatherless childhood preys on her mind, and makes her hesitate. &nbsp;Her best friend Kerensa, married to the&nbsp;mogul Reuben, finds out she's pregnant, but instead of being happy about it, she's terrified it will expose a secret only she and Polly know about. &nbsp;Forbidden to tell Huckle the secret, the added stress on Polly creates even more tension between Polly and Huckle. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While Polly's life in Mount Polbearne is the happiest she's ever been, it certainly has a few bumps in the road. &nbsp;Can she find a way to make everyone happy, and keep herself from going crazy? &nbsp;Add to that Reuben's&nbsp;request for Polly to cater his whole Christmas celebration (which is multiple parties), when all she wants is to spend Christmas Day lounging around with Huckle and not baking one thing. &nbsp;But the money Reuben is offering is more than Polly can even comprehend, and would go a long way towards making life easier. &nbsp;What's a baker to do?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was a good conclusion to the Little Beach&nbsp;Street Bakery trilogy, although it did seem a bit gloomy at times. &nbsp;I'll&nbsp;certainly miss the&nbsp;people I've come to know reading these books, and I'll always be hoping Jenny Colgan sends out an unexpected, yet very welcome, update on Polly, Huckle, Kerensa, and Reuben. &nbsp;Polly's journey to happiness comes to a satisfactory conclusion, and the ending is sweet and perfect. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you haven't read the first two books in this trilogy: <b><i>Little Beach Street Bakery</i></b>, and <b><i>Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery</i></b>, &nbsp;please do before you read this--you'll understand the dynamics of the characters much better, and &nbsp;Polly's journey to happiness as the beloved baker of Mount Polbearne is worth the read. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;4/6 for a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. &nbsp;Polly and Huckle, while happy, still have growing pains (as do all relationships). &nbsp;I appreciate the author's understanding that happily ever after takes constant work!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in paperback and ebook.</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-63750162060004013842017-12-05T22:00:00.000-06:002017-12-05T22:00:46.398-06:00Tru and Nelle: A Christmas Tale by G. Neri<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eo9vDo2uIF0/WidlAacmePI/AAAAAAAAFF0/sxX0-mBIgW0Q7JRd8ZUGGsveu9SLZ0DOACLcBGAs/s1600/33503502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eo9vDo2uIF0/WidlAacmePI/AAAAAAAAFF0/sxX0-mBIgW0Q7JRd8ZUGGsveu9SLZ0DOACLcBGAs/s400/33503502.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;It's very true I haven't read much children's fiction this year. I saw this book and, knowing a little bit about Truman Capote and Harper Lee's childhood friendship, I thought this would be a good read to include in my Christmas picks for December. &nbsp;It is the continuation of&nbsp;<i style="font-weight: bold;">Tru and Nelle,</i>&nbsp;but you don't need to read that in order to enjoy this tale. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read&nbsp;the author's note after finishing the book, and learned that most of the people in this novel were actual real-life&nbsp;folks in Truman and&nbsp;Nelle's lives. Set in 1935,&nbsp;just a few days before Christmas,&nbsp;Tru is a runaway, hitching a ride on a train from his military school in New York to Monroeville, Alabama. &nbsp;He had moved to New York with his mother and step-father, preferring the bright lights of New York City. &nbsp;But once his mother was granted full custody after a bitter divorce, Truman finds out he's in the way, and shipped off to a military school where he doesn't fit in at all. &nbsp;He decides he can't take it anymore and hops a train, getting back to his friend Nelle and his family: &nbsp;Jenny, Big Boy, and Sookie. &nbsp;He's welcomed back with open arms, but isn't there very long before bad things start to happen around Tru. &nbsp;Suddenly homeless, his family ends up staying with Big Boy's family on their farm for Christmas. &nbsp;A mysterious murder happens, and Nelle--trying to be helpful for her father, A.C., ends up creating a disaster when she notices two black men hanging around near the murder scene. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While Christmas is approaching quickly,&nbsp;Tru and Nelle are struggling to find the meaning of Christmas, and the hope for justice to be served after it becomes quite clear the two men are not guilty of anything but being in the wrong place at the wrong time. &nbsp;But the South in 1935 is no place for justice when it comes to race, and A.C. has his one and only&nbsp;criminal case in Monroeville, defending the two men. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through all of this turmoil,&nbsp;Tru and Nelle are rediscovering their friendship,&nbsp;evolving in their love of storytelling, and struggling with their&nbsp;identities--neither one is a typical tween and they don't fit in anywhere. &nbsp;But Christmas has a special pull, and the love of family and friends means a lot in a time of despair and racial injustice. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really did enjoy this novel. &nbsp;I thought it was a good balance between what the climate was like for 1935 Southern America--so many people with nothing, the KKK, racial tensions; but still that important pull of family and sticking together. Of being a good neighbor, of taking that one extra step&nbsp;to help, be kind, and understanding. &nbsp;Tru and&nbsp;Nelle's struggle to move their relationship from a childhood friendship to a young adult friendship is something most of us have had to go through with dear friends we've know for a long time. &nbsp;And justice. &nbsp;As A.C. tells Nelle, sometimes the most important thing we can do is to be a witness to events, even when we can't do anything to prevent the outcome. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a young reader novel, but very suitable for adults and teens, too. &nbsp;Truman Capote's memoir <b><i>A Christmas Memory</i></b> is still available in bookstores and libraries. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EfQtkORSv-E/WidqNJKxoZI/AAAAAAAAFGE/hiQrSUu_1bI-K6rOARK679vYpg1O5XkZwCLcBGAs/s1600/9919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EfQtkORSv-E/WidqNJKxoZI/AAAAAAAAFGE/hiQrSUu_1bI-K6rOARK679vYpg1O5XkZwCLcBGAs/s320/9919.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;4/6 for a novel about Truman Capote and Harper Lee's childhood friendship,&nbsp;and one special Christmas. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in hardcover and ebook.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-4632517527360556122017-12-02T14:28:00.000-06:002017-12-02T14:30:42.467-06:00Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa De La Cruz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qey95RwrYSg/WiMHfodMTJI/AAAAAAAAFFk/vXB0NHx2frYZicxmOdyesDAt2bd7T3UOwCLcBGAs/s1600/33602143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qey95RwrYSg/WiMHfodMTJI/AAAAAAAAFFk/vXB0NHx2frYZicxmOdyesDAt2bd7T3UOwCLcBGAs/s320/33602143.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I can't say <b>Pride and Prejudice</b> by Jane Austen is my most favorite book <i>ever, </i>but I definitely have a soft spot for it, and of course I love the BBC series version with Colin Firth. &nbsp;So much so, that I bought it on VHS tape years and years ago. &nbsp;And, Colin Firth remains the only Darcy in my heart. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I thought this would be a fun read-a modern version of P&amp;P with the roles reversed: &nbsp;Darcy is a 29 year old super smart woman who has risen to partnership in her hedge fund financial corporation in New York City. &nbsp;From the town of Pemberly, OH, she's avoided&nbsp;going home for eight years after a falling out with her father over her refusal to marry Carl, who looked good on paper, but whom Darcy just didn't love. &nbsp;Instead, she left for New York City and became a very rich woman working on Wall Street. &nbsp;Her life is fairly empty except for work; she can buy anything she wants, but just isn't very happy. &nbsp;A family health crisis sends her flying home just before Christmas. &nbsp;She's uncomfortable in her family's very plush home (Dad is a very successful businessman) and running into old family friends-namely, the Bennets, a family of men who Darcy's&nbsp;known all her life. &nbsp;There's Jim, who makes an immediate connection with Darcy's actor friend Bingley, and there's Luke. &nbsp;He's annoyed Darcy all through high school, and their drunken make out session under the&nbsp;mistletoe at her family's Christmas party is a shock to Darcy. &nbsp;A shock, you say? &nbsp;Yes, because she realizes she's got feelings for Luke. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">There are all sorts of complications, and the path to true love for Darcy and Luke isn't smooth. &nbsp;I got tired of trying to compare P&amp;P to this story, and I wish De La Cruz hadn't even tried to make this a modern version. &nbsp;It would have been a perfectly good story without trying to force it into the P&amp;P mold. &nbsp;It strayed enough away that I just got annoyed, and the flimsy pivot in the plot (two Bennet boys are juvenile&nbsp;delinquents, and Darcy basically pays off the high school principal to let them stay in school) was lame-o. &nbsp;This novel would have been heaps better if it was just about two people who discover they don't dislike each other, but actually quite like each other-without all the extra junk that mucked up the story. &nbsp;I also found the nonchalant way Darcy talked about money a bit&nbsp;off-putting. &nbsp;It was a Hallmark movie gone wrong, I'm afraid.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Oh well. &nbsp;It's a quick read, and enjoyable enough, just disappointing for me.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;2/6 for a plot that tries to force itself into a clever, modern twist of&nbsp;Pride and Prejudice, but fell short for me. &nbsp;I didn't much like Darcy, either. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Available in hardcover, and ebook. &nbsp;</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-37672690761929966552017-11-30T08:48:00.002-06:002017-11-30T08:48:37.148-06:00Brimstone by Cherie Priest and My November Fails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eh7-JXgIRks/WiAMKTMzktI/AAAAAAAAFE0/dQBzDL4RKFYlwOA1psNWzbZl0YEC8Hz5QCLcBGAs/s1600/30213129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eh7-JXgIRks/WiAMKTMzktI/AAAAAAAAFE0/dQBzDL4RKFYlwOA1psNWzbZl0YEC8Hz5QCLcBGAs/s400/30213129.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've said it before, and I'll say it again: &nbsp;I love Cherie Priest novels. She's a fantasy writer with a touch of&nbsp;paranormal creepiness that is just right for someone like me. &nbsp;I don't care much for&nbsp;horror novels, and her writing comes&nbsp;right up to the edge but&nbsp;doesn't tip over. &nbsp;I think she's hitting her stride, and more readers are discovering her novels in the science fiction/fantasy sections of their&nbsp;libraries and bookstores.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In <i style="font-weight: bold;">Brimstone</i>, Cherie takes us to 1920 Cassadaga, Florida. &nbsp;There are two main characters: &nbsp;Alice Dartle, a young woman from Virginia who has come to Cassadaga to share her clairvoyant talents, and Tomas Cordero, a World War I vet who lives in Ybor City, Florida. &nbsp;He is haunted by the task he was given as a solider: &nbsp;to be part of a small force of men who used a flamethrower to kill enemy&nbsp;soldiers. &nbsp;He returns home to find his wife has&nbsp;died of influenza while he was gone, and he's a broken man. He is desperate to communicate with her. But something strange is happening: &nbsp;small fires are appearing out of nowhere, and the local police are suspicious that Tomas is setting them himself. &nbsp;But he's not. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cassadaga is a small community built to welcome people who have a variety of talents: mediums, clairvoyants, tarot readers; anyone who has a legitimate talent to see to the other side. &nbsp;Folks travel to Cassadaga from all over the United States and the world to stay at the hotel, attend lectures, and have readings. &nbsp;It's one place people like Alice can come to live and feel welcome and develop&nbsp;their talents with like minded people. &nbsp;At her first outing to conduct live readings, she zeros in on something dark, hulking, and evil. &nbsp;It calls itself The Hammer. &nbsp;Not understanding what it is, and overwhelmed by the&nbsp;ferocity of this malignant "thing", Alice is shaken and takes awhile to recover. &nbsp;She's also dreaming about a solider wearing a strange mask, and surrounded by flames and a battlefield.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomas, meanwhile, has increasingly frightening episodes of fires erupting at his home, but also tragically elsewhere in his neighborhood and business. &nbsp;People are&nbsp;starting to die in these fires, which are horribly fierce and leave nothing standing. &nbsp;He has written to Alice (after seeing her profiled in a newspaper) and decides after the worst fire to flee Ybor City and travel to Cassadaga for help.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alice and Tomas finally meet in Cassadaga, but Tomas has&nbsp;brought something terribly dark, evil, and bent on destruction with him. &nbsp;Now the evil has set its sights on Cassadaga and all who live there. &nbsp;Will Alice be able to figure out what The Hammer is, and stop it before it destroys Cassadaga?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took me awhile to get through this novel; not because it wasn't interesting, but just because I was easily distracted this month. &nbsp;When I&nbsp;finally dialed in and focused, I was sucked in and soon I could smell the smoke, feel the heat, and taste the soot. &nbsp;I could feel myself becoming a little paranoid about smelling fire, too. &nbsp;As the tension ramped up, I felt myself urging Alice and Tomas to figure it out, quickly! &nbsp;When the identity of The Hammer is revealed; well, I thought heck, that was a&nbsp;pretty cool plot twist. &nbsp;Cherie Priest also explores grief, and how sometimes we so desperately want to hear from our loved ones that we'll accept anything as a sign they are near, even if it is so clearly not a good sign-and perhaps even a deadly sign. &nbsp;Maybe it's not your loved one, but something dark from the other side...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you haven't tried a Cherie Priest novel, give her a try. &nbsp;She's written a few stand&nbsp;alone, but also a few series and they are all very different. &nbsp;There is sure to be something there to interest you! Here's a link to her list of books on her blog:</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cheriepriest.com/order-the-book/">http://www.cheriepriest.com</a>&nbsp;. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;4/6 for an&nbsp;unusual plot and a fascinating look at Cassadaga (which does exist!), grief, and what haunts us. &nbsp;Available in paperback and ebook.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My November fails. &nbsp;There were a few, I'm sad to say. &nbsp;Time got away from me, and I didn't get to read nearly enough of what I'd planned. &nbsp;Tomorrow is December 1st, and I've already started on my pile of Christmas reads. &nbsp;I'm ready for the comfort and entertainment they will bring me. &nbsp;Here's what I started, but didn't finish in November:</span></i><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xc-p2QdON9o/WiAUwjw4PfI/AAAAAAAAFFE/okX9SLfxsGs_CUHauqqsrKeul0Y_Dg2agCLcBGAs/s1600/31145052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xc-p2QdON9o/WiAUwjw4PfI/AAAAAAAAFFE/okX9SLfxsGs_CUHauqqsrKeul0Y_Dg2agCLcBGAs/s320/31145052.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought I would be able to read this YA novel based on the amazing life of&nbsp;Dita Kraus, and her time spent at Auschwitz as a teenager. &nbsp;I was wrong. &nbsp;I made it to about 100 pages, and then just couldn't read anymore. &nbsp;It was a fascinating story, but the horrible, palpable evil of Auschwitz and the suffering that&nbsp;occurred there is still too much for me to read. &nbsp;Maybe someday I'll try again. &nbsp;The evil people are capable of inflicting on other people is something I will never be able to understand.&nbsp;</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gchBKbwwq-c/WiAUy65ZYaI/AAAAAAAAFFI/sY-N7BXBv_A7Hayqx-BRsvLOI4TWTdypwCLcBGAs/s1600/33585391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gchBKbwwq-c/WiAUy65ZYaI/AAAAAAAAFFI/sY-N7BXBv_A7Hayqx-BRsvLOI4TWTdypwCLcBGAs/s320/33585391.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dang it, I was so excited about this novel! &nbsp;I'll be frank: &nbsp;it is a big, hefty tome. &nbsp;It is full of all sorts of bits of journals, history lessons, and other interesting tidbits. &nbsp;It deserves a lot of time and energy, and those were lacking this month. &nbsp;It's not a straightforward tale. &nbsp;I'll have to return it to the library, but I will try again. &nbsp;I think there's something very interesting here.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-inUxrcTmCUY/WiAWYAGkw4I/AAAAAAAAFFU/JZ9JNpQHRV0ekD79-CN5sUGC1vM360XIwCLcBGAs/s1600/33641244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-inUxrcTmCUY/WiAWYAGkw4I/AAAAAAAAFFU/JZ9JNpQHRV0ekD79-CN5sUGC1vM360XIwCLcBGAs/s320/33641244.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;I have heard so much buzz about this, that I finally decided to try it and checked it out of the library. &nbsp;I started it late, but within the first few pages, I was hooked. &nbsp;Unfortunately, I ran out of time, and it's due back to the&nbsp;library for the next person on the holds list--darn it! &nbsp;I may end up buying this one, because I really, really want to read it. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One reason I was less than my usual reading self this month was because I decided to attempt NaNoWriMo, which is National Novel Writing Month. &nbsp;It runs from midnight of November 1 through midnight of November 30th. &nbsp;Your goal: write a 50,000 word novel in that time. &nbsp;If you stick to a plan and write every day, you'll easily achieve your goal before the deadline. &nbsp;No editing, no rewriting: just get&nbsp;your idea down on paper. &nbsp;The&nbsp;rewriting and editing comes in January, or in my case, never. &nbsp;For me it's all about getting the creative juices flowing, and trying something just to see if I can do it. &nbsp;So, I started out doing well, and keeping up with the pace. &nbsp;But then life happened, and there were a few days where I wrote nothing at all. &nbsp;Yikes. &nbsp;I fell behind, and thought I'd catch up over Thanksgiving weekend. &nbsp;Well, plans changed, and I ended up not being home for most of the four days of the holiday weekend. &nbsp;No writing done. I did some fancy early morning and late evening work, drinking lots of coffee and listening to classical music to help my brain work. &nbsp;And I'm happy to say, I did finish two days before the deadline. &nbsp;I got my 50,000 words (and 89 pages) in and verified on Tuesday night. &nbsp;Now I won't be looking at what I wrote for a very long time, if ever. &nbsp;I'm just happy I set a goal and achieved it. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now, onto December. &nbsp;Yay! &nbsp;Baking cookies and breads, decorating the house, and spending my evenings reading holiday books. &nbsp;I can't wait. &nbsp;Egg nog is on the&nbsp;grocery list for this weekend.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What are you reading in December to combat holiday stress? Share it in the comments!</b></span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-91301970931437047112017-11-20T07:36:00.000-06:002017-11-20T07:36:12.511-06:00Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-irvBgIr_-bg/WhLP62AwEXI/AAAAAAAAFEI/-v_QYPUqDDsMVvWiAUM-NBVNhigqfg0fwCLcBGAs/s1600/35259724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-irvBgIr_-bg/WhLP62AwEXI/AAAAAAAAFEI/-v_QYPUqDDsMVvWiAUM-NBVNhigqfg0fwCLcBGAs/s400/35259724.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was a powerful novel, and if not for folks around me talking about it, I&nbsp;probably would have&nbsp;passed it by. &nbsp;However, fate intervened, and I'm happy to have spent the time reading about Jende and Neni Jonga's experience as immigrants in America. &nbsp;There is so much to talk about, it is definitely a novel you'll want to discuss with friends.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jende is a native of Cameroon, and is living in New York City with his wife Neni and their young son, Liomi. &nbsp;Jende had arrived in New York City alone, and spent a few years working hard, scraping up enough money to marry Neni and bring her to America. &nbsp;His dream was to leave Cameroon, where opportunities to succeed were slim to none. &nbsp;Jende is extremely hard working, of noble character, and polite to a fault. &nbsp;He's also living in the U.S. without a green card, and an expired visa. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jende's chance to make a huge leap in providing for his family comes when he's offered a job as the chauffeur to Clark Edwards, an executive with Lehman Brothers. &nbsp;It's 2007; Barak Obama is running for President, and the financial crisis that rocks Wall Street is looming. Neni attends school, with the dream to be a pharmacist. &nbsp;Jende and Neni are two hard working people who save every penny they can, live very modestly on very little, and dream of providing a future for their son that wouldn't be possible in Limbe, their hometown. &nbsp;America is their dream, if only Jende could receive a green card. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jende's employment with the Edwards family extends to Clark's wife Cindy and their sons, Vince and Mighty. &nbsp;As he chauffeurs them around New York City, he learns that money cannot buy happiness. &nbsp;Cindy is a closet alcoholic, deeply unhappy with life, and&nbsp;haunted by a&nbsp;terrible childhood. &nbsp;Clark is desperately working to keep Lehman Brothers from falling apart; Vince loathes everything about America and longs to run away to India. &nbsp;Mighty, Clark and Cindy's young son, is watching everything he knows crumble and fall apart.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jende's life is also hanging in the balance; he has an upcoming court date with Immigration, and chances are good he may be deported. What will he do if this happens? &nbsp;How will it change his life, and that of his family, if he's forced to return to Cameroon, a place that is at once home, but also a place of failed opportunities? &nbsp;Jende's anxiety and desperate hope that he will stay in America is palpable throughout the novel, and I kept getting anxious every time his looming immigration court date was mentioned. &nbsp;As the Edwards' life implodes with the Lehman Brothers scandal, Jende's life is also&nbsp;affected in ways that are startling and for me, unexpected. &nbsp;Neni's anger at the prospect of leaving&nbsp;America is so powerful; as a woman I could understand her desire to make a better life for herself; &nbsp;and her willingness to work very hard to do so. Neni's fierceness in protecting her family is a welcome part of her character development. &nbsp;For most of the novel, she's quiet, hard working, and supports Jende in everything he does. But as their life takes a sudden turn, she finally opens up and demands to be heard, not only by Jende, but by everyone in her life.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the most interesting aspects of this novel is the idea of home and where we come from. &nbsp;How it can be both the most wonderful place, and the one place we never want to return to because we see it as a sense of failure and giving up. &nbsp;We see it in both Jende and Neni, and the Edwards family. &nbsp;Success can be measured in so many ways, and it changes depending on where we are in life. &nbsp;But it doesn't matter if you're black, white, an immigrant, or a citizen.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This book was very good, and I'm hopeful Imbolo Mbue writes more. &nbsp;This was an extraordinary first novel. &nbsp;Random House has helpfully provided reading group discussion questions, as&nbsp;well as an interview with Imbolo Mbue in the latest paperback edition of the book. &nbsp;Both sections are worth reading. &nbsp;A timely novel that will generate many discussions on immigration policy, and the plight of immigrants not only in America, but throughout the world.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;6/6 for a novel that explores immigration, race, dreams, family, &nbsp;and the meaning of success.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in paperback, audio, and ebook.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-3210631338745957172017-11-16T08:21:00.000-06:002017-11-16T08:21:22.747-06:00I Can't Wait to Tell You What I'm Reading in December: Bring on the Holiday Novels!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I'm making my way through <strike>two</strike>&nbsp;three novels this week, and hitting a dip in my NaNoWriMo project, I have been longingly thinking of the holiday books I've got lined up for December. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started reading fun, holiday themed books in December while I worked in retail. Working extra hours, literally running back and forth in the bookstore for hours each day, left me completely spent and fried. My solace was to dive into books that helped remind me that the holiday season was about family, friends, and that wonderful anticipation of Christmas morning. &nbsp;I'm out of retail, but I still find myself feeling a bit overwhelmed at the holidays and needing that reminder to slow down and enjoy the season. &nbsp;So, starting shortly after Thanksgiving--I've made myself wait until then--I've got a load of new holiday titles to read. &nbsp;Maybe there's something in my list that you'll love, too:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AfMAbpicxV8/Wg2doXkkk4I/AAAAAAAAFDY/M4m-vVnMrrcnPeEY1HS_iKRSH5IhxvuXQCLcBGAs/s1600/17908207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AfMAbpicxV8/Wg2doXkkk4I/AAAAAAAAFDY/M4m-vVnMrrcnPeEY1HS_iKRSH5IhxvuXQCLcBGAs/s320/17908207.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2z4bEgxj2Kw/Wg2doQfS6FI/AAAAAAAAFDc/1VP7sSuK2VAmFGLun5iFoChdkFHRv-S2wCLcBGAs/s1600/33357622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2z4bEgxj2Kw/Wg2doQfS6FI/AAAAAAAAFDc/1VP7sSuK2VAmFGLun5iFoChdkFHRv-S2wCLcBGAs/s320/33357622.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1JgXx-dVgFc/Wg2doezrf6I/AAAAAAAAFDg/rw-SKtU2htgeXmq55HuygE9sS-TgKxdKgCLcBGAs/s1600/33503502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1JgXx-dVgFc/Wg2doezrf6I/AAAAAAAAFDg/rw-SKtU2htgeXmq55HuygE9sS-TgKxdKgCLcBGAs/s320/33503502.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DQWcCf8wB78/Wg2dohlujhI/AAAAAAAAFDk/uXALLn7s15wLmfwE6JrSv56kEtyMs8PFACLcBGAs/s1600/33574242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DQWcCf8wB78/Wg2dohlujhI/AAAAAAAAFDk/uXALLn7s15wLmfwE6JrSv56kEtyMs8PFACLcBGAs/s320/33574242.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-roe_rmGaTvs/Wg2do6CYZ3I/AAAAAAAAFDo/atWwnlCteFErNjPiUYcxIWAscjMo53RzgCLcBGAs/s1600/33602143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-roe_rmGaTvs/Wg2do6CYZ3I/AAAAAAAAFDo/atWwnlCteFErNjPiUYcxIWAscjMo53RzgCLcBGAs/s320/33602143.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mMtJDa3tFXk/Wg2dpWegsSI/AAAAAAAAFDs/0Gi-MuRIsgwcM66HmGH3_l8ugVz6P4YrwCLcBGAs/s1600/33905391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="266" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mMtJDa3tFXk/Wg2dpWegsSI/AAAAAAAAFDs/0Gi-MuRIsgwcM66HmGH3_l8ugVz6P4YrwCLcBGAs/s320/33905391.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C0KyoyGnTbk/Wg2dqGR10EI/AAAAAAAAFDw/onpapjJPm4kZ18rYbJsjPOwjtV44BMJ5gCLcBGAs/s1600/34017073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C0KyoyGnTbk/Wg2dqGR10EI/AAAAAAAAFDw/onpapjJPm4kZ18rYbJsjPOwjtV44BMJ5gCLcBGAs/s320/34017073.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cjPGLTTDIlI/Wg2d3oXXKxI/AAAAAAAAFD0/9y0P7HHcIRIX8deG2Gc7w4okpWRCONS_gCLcBGAs/s1600/34066619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cjPGLTTDIlI/Wg2d3oXXKxI/AAAAAAAAFD0/9y0P7HHcIRIX8deG2Gc7w4okpWRCONS_gCLcBGAs/s320/34066619.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can see, there are plenty of new titles out this holiday season. &nbsp;Meanwhile, I'll be working away on my title list for November. &nbsp;Reviews coming soon! &nbsp;What&nbsp;holiday books are you reading in December? &nbsp;Let me know! &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-60980283891193375222017-11-13T08:00:00.002-06:002017-11-13T08:00:26.541-06:00Give a Girl a Knife by Amy Thielen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bdTIoD2K_jk/WgmcwQjlpfI/AAAAAAAAFDA/6HdejtKgcfAT0Z_fTNGMEpqKs3OGBAsCQCLcBGAs/s1600/32148009-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="318" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bdTIoD2K_jk/WgmcwQjlpfI/AAAAAAAAFDA/6HdejtKgcfAT0Z_fTNGMEpqKs3OGBAsCQCLcBGAs/s400/32148009-1.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This memoir had been on my TBR list for quite some time, but I had to be patient and wait my turn at the library. &nbsp;I had watched Amy's cooking show, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Heartland Table</i>&nbsp;on the Food Network years ago, and was intrigued by her kitchen. It looked small, rustic, and not fancy at all. &nbsp;No high end, shiny, expensive kitchen gadgets; no gleaming countertops. I liked the way she talked about food, and how she used her garden and what she could find at her local grocery store to make amazing meals. &nbsp;Her Midwest nature appealed to this Midwest woman. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So with that in mind, I started to read her memoir. &nbsp;It took me many days (okay, weeks) to get through this memoir, and I'm puzzled as to why. &nbsp;Amy writes beautifully; if she hadn't made it as a cook, she would find her niche in writing. &nbsp;Her descriptions of food make your mouth water; her fondness for the food of her Minnesota youth spars with her awakened palate for fine food. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amy's story begins in Minnesota, and ends there. &nbsp;But in between, Amy and her boyfriend, artist Aaron Spangler move to Brooklyn and live there off and on for years. &nbsp;Aaron is working on his art and Amy attends cooking school, then bounces around&nbsp;some of the most famous restaurants in New York City, learning from the best. &nbsp;What I found refreshing about Amy is that she was not interested in moving up the ranks to someday be top chef, or even run her own restaurant in New York City. &nbsp;For her, it was all about learning the skills, and exploring flavors. &nbsp;Amy and Aaron would sometimes leave&nbsp;Brooklyn and return to Minnesota to spend the summer in Aaron's rustic (no&nbsp;running water, no electricity) little home out in the wilds of Minnesota. &nbsp;There they would plant a huge vegetable garden, harvest wild rice out of their front yard, and puzzle over their yearning to be home, yet at the same time resenting the pull of home. Two people who never thought they would return to Park Rapids, Minnesota, yet find themselves homesick for the flavors, the quiet, and the&nbsp;freedom from busy city life. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amy and Aaron get married, and continue to live in Brooklyn. &nbsp;Her work as a cook demands 80 plus hours a week, and she's not making much money at all. &nbsp;Aaron finally gets some well deserved attention for his art, and it looks like Brooklyn is finally paying off. &nbsp;Until Aaron tells Amy he wants to move&nbsp;back to Minnesota and build a studio next to their rustic little home. Amy, who has been questioning her passion for the high stress world of New York haute cuisine, realizes that what she&nbsp;really wants is to be a home cook. &nbsp;Armed with her skills and her new palate, she&nbsp;returns to Minnesota with Aaron and creates a life that happily continues to fulfill them both.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amy's book is a bit different from other cooking memoirs I've read, mostly because of her attitude towards the cooking industry. &nbsp;She started cooking school after college, and&nbsp;knew her strengths and weaknesses going into her various tenures at restaurants in New York City. &nbsp;For her it wasn't about rising to the top, or making the big bucks. &nbsp;She became obsessed with creating flavors, and it almost consumed her. &nbsp;Her passion for cooking was overwhelming to read; sometimes I had to put the book down and take a break. &nbsp;Part of me&nbsp;kept thinking, the customer doesn't care about all the heart and soul you put into that one dish! They just want something good to eat, and something worth the money they're spending. I almost felt bad for all the effort she put into dishes, knowing the recipients had no idea, and probably&nbsp;wouldn't have cared to know. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did enjoy this book, but it was a bit of an effort to read it. &nbsp;It made me very aware of just how much food is a part of our memories, our childhood; how it alters the way we look at the world. &nbsp;I recently had a birthday, and my boyfriend wanted to take me out to dinner. &nbsp;I didn't want to go to a restaurant. &nbsp;Instead, I made my favorite birthday dinner. &nbsp;One that my Mom made for me almost every birthday I had in my youth: &nbsp;scalloped potatoes and ham, followed by a&nbsp;chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. &nbsp;I made it a little different than my Mom's recipe, but that special flavor was there, and it made me very happy to dive into a plate of creamy potatoes dotted with bits of ham and cheese. &nbsp;For just a few minutes, I was back at home with Mom and Dad and my siblings, eating my favorite meal on a cold November night. &nbsp;These memories are all the more precious now that my parents are gone. Food, more than anything else, keeps me connected to my very best memories of childhood.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;4/6 for a savory, finger licking good memoir about food, home, and memories. Amy reminded me that food is more than just fuel for the body. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio.</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-91798744145552206032017-11-07T18:50:00.000-06:002017-11-07T18:50:14.979-06:00November Reads: My Library Cup Overfloweth<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I looked up, and it's already November 7th. &nbsp;Thanksgiving is a few short weeks away, and I'm still startled to see Christmas in every retail store. &nbsp;You also know Christmas season is around when the Hallmark Channel starts playing their holiday movies at the end of October. &nbsp;And as I pointed out to my boyfriend's mother, <b><i><span style="font-size: large;">there are 21 new Hallmark holiday movies this season</span></i></b>. &nbsp;What?! &nbsp;My DVR will get a workout this month. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Much as I'd like to A) watch Hallmark movies and B) dive into my TBR piles at home, the library elves have decided that now is the time to have all of the books I've placed on hold become available. &nbsp;So while I may sneak in a few books off my shelves at home, most of what I'm&nbsp;reading this month will be courtesy of my library. &nbsp;I've had some dangerous moments, wandering the aisles. &nbsp;So many books I want to read! &nbsp;I have to&nbsp;turn my back, or I'd be checking out books almost every day. &nbsp;The life of a bookworm is just not that easy. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, while I'm gamely working on my novel for NaNoWriMo (the tug of war between reading and writing is fierce <i>every day), </i>I'm also working on my stack of library books. &nbsp;Here's what I'm reading this month:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ctJoiZGBZxE/WgJTWdmHOQI/AAAAAAAAFCc/QW-7uBp7_28bPLKtHU05aF1pPZDQCL1cwCLcBGAs/s1600/30213129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ctJoiZGBZxE/WgJTWdmHOQI/AAAAAAAAFCc/QW-7uBp7_28bPLKtHU05aF1pPZDQCL1cwCLcBGAs/s320/30213129.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">A favorite author has another paranormal novel out!</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KDdMhaYuUxY/WgJTWVS2yNI/AAAAAAAAFCY/rxO8Afm6lcA5dDteniPJpsdI1a3r1L8YACLcBGAs/s1600/31145052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KDdMhaYuUxY/WgJTWVS2yNI/AAAAAAAAFCY/rxO8Afm6lcA5dDteniPJpsdI1a3r1L8YACLcBGAs/s320/31145052.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A YA novel based on a true story</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hb9ZhEacR5Y/WgJTWemgZAI/AAAAAAAAFCg/hsoCgUtBzmEg8pH6WzxJE8TlYUrSroDUwCLcBGAs/s1600/32148009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hb9ZhEacR5Y/WgJTWemgZAI/AAAAAAAAFCg/hsoCgUtBzmEg8pH6WzxJE8TlYUrSroDUwCLcBGAs/s320/32148009.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I watched her cooking show on Food Network, had to read the book!</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqwTzIIjQ34/WgJTWuDg2gI/AAAAAAAAFCk/kCz0x44HM6k9lTxQIBVRgWiKEtlUAVDywCLcBGAs/s1600/33585391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqwTzIIjQ34/WgJTWuDg2gI/AAAAAAAAFCk/kCz0x44HM6k9lTxQIBVRgWiKEtlUAVDywCLcBGAs/s320/33585391.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Scotland. &nbsp;Enough said.&nbsp;</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kfnM8PEaUfw/WgJTWwZtzHI/AAAAAAAAFCo/ms3om8SDl_E1eHKSr6DFSDhPmj1G9GCCwCLcBGAs/s1600/35259724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kfnM8PEaUfw/WgJTWwZtzHI/AAAAAAAAFCo/ms3om8SDl_E1eHKSr6DFSDhPmj1G9GCCwCLcBGAs/s320/35259724.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A timely novel about dreams, immigration, and reality.<br /><br /></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A little bit of everything tossed together. &nbsp;Next month I'll be&nbsp;reading a gaggle of holiday novels, and I can't wait! &nbsp;Bring on the early nights, bring on the chilly weather. &nbsp;I'm ready to stay home and read.&nbsp;</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-40040813390662161432017-11-04T11:34:00.000-05:002017-11-04T11:34:26.044-05:00Two Reviews in One: The House Between Tides & How to Change a Life, Plus Other Book Stuff<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The march to the end of 2017 is picking up speed, and while this is probably the first upcoming holiday season where I don't have a zillion things to do, I expect I will be&nbsp;busy with last minute baking, get togethers, and *ahem* creating my homemade limoncello. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, my beloved books will always be at the forefront of everything I do. &nbsp;I haven't read nearly everything I wanted to this year:&nbsp;<i>Lincoln at the Bardo, The Hate U Give, Origin, The Underground Railroad...</i>just to name a few. &nbsp;Sometimes I wish I was more disciplined with my reading--spreadsheets, mapping out what to read when; but then I realize some of the best reads I've stumbled on purely by accident and because they weren't planned. &nbsp;So I'll stick with my purely organic, absolutely no spreadsheet approach to reading and reviewing. I always believe the books I'm meant to read will find their way to me. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With a time crunch, I'm reviewing two books I've read in the past few weeks. &nbsp;Both were on my October To Be Read list. &nbsp;Reviews are short mainly because I was a bit disappointed with both novels. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U0tnyhP2hls/Wf3opr6zJdI/AAAAAAAAFB4/s6XA8jgSv1w4E51sK9wyTM2G5OxAzNLzwCLcBGAs/s1600/33155461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U0tnyhP2hls/Wf3opr6zJdI/AAAAAAAAFB4/s6XA8jgSv1w4E51sK9wyTM2G5OxAzNLzwCLcBGAs/s320/33155461.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">How to Change a Life</i>&nbsp;by Stacey&nbsp;Ballis. I have read some of her previous novels, and would readily recommend her to anyone who loves Chicago, foodie novels, and novels about women past the&nbsp;first bloom of youth, but not quite into middle age. &nbsp;That part of life where you start to look at the choices you've made, and wonder if they were the&nbsp;right ones, or if you have to reset and do something different. &nbsp;Normally I gobble up her tales--they always have a happy ending, but not the soppy ending you find in a standard romance. &nbsp;For some reason, this one just didn't click with me. &nbsp;Eloise is a private chef in Chicago; the death of a beloved high school teacher brings her back in touch with her two best friends from high school, and they decide to revive their lists of things to accomplish before 40--as they are all 39. &nbsp;Some of the items on Eloise's list: &nbsp;go out on dates, and put together a cookbook proposal.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;I will say, the romance that comes into Eloise's life was really pretty good, but I felt like it was just a little too perfect. Eloise meets a man at a Halloween party, and things click from there. &nbsp;One twist is that she's white, and he's African American. &nbsp;It was refreshing that this wasn't belabored over at all, but for a few&nbsp;conversations that Eloise and Shawn have concerning meeting each other's parents. They have a very mature relationship (with plenty of sparks!), and an obvious drama pops up from Shawn's past that I felt didn't provide enough of a conflict to make a big difference in the storyline. I felt that if Eloise was so ready for changes in her life, it didn't take much for her to do them, and left me wondering why she didn't do them earlier. &nbsp;There didn't&nbsp;seem to be much of a change in her besides meeting a wonderful partner and entering a serious relationship. &nbsp;Not much drama between the friends, and not really any big conflicts between Eloise and Shawn. &nbsp;So while it was an enjoyable read, I just wasn't terribly impressed with Stacey Ballis' latest.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I give this novel a 2/6.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is available in paperback and ebook.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3qAnnmlvJCI/Wf3ouXP4ZZI/AAAAAAAAFB8/4VUfQb8PjaMfOLeBKDa9vTAkvztxvT2qACLcBGAs/s1600/25814507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3qAnnmlvJCI/Wf3ouXP4ZZI/AAAAAAAAFB8/4VUfQb8PjaMfOLeBKDa9vTAkvztxvT2qACLcBGAs/s320/25814507.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">The House Between the Tides</i>&nbsp;by Sarah Maine was another book that fell a bit short for me. &nbsp;Darn it all, I was really ready for a gothic tale set in Scotland. &nbsp;At first, I was completely into the novel. &nbsp;Hetty Deveraux travels to Muirlan, a home she's&nbsp;inherited in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. &nbsp;What's unusual about this home is that it sits on an island and is only accessible by foot and car when the tide is out. Muirlan's history revolves around artist Theo Blake, who lived there until his death by drowning in the 1940's. &nbsp;Theo had brought his new bride, Beatrice, to Muirlan in 1910, and things didn't go well for the couple. &nbsp;Theo was broody, sullen, and had lost his way artistically. &nbsp;Hoping to recover that passion, he pinned his hopes on being back at his beloved home. &nbsp;A failed romance from the past leaves him haunted, and Beatrice finds out the man she married isn't quite who she thought he was--now what should she do?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In present day, Hetty wants to turn the home into a hotel. &nbsp;James, a local architect, has been hired to look over the house. It's in pretty bad shape, and while looking around inside, he finds disturbed floorboards, and a skeleton placed in the hollow underneath. &nbsp;Who is it, and who placed the body there, so long ago? &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The novel moves back and&nbsp;forth between Hetty's struggle to solve the mystery, and 1910, when Theo and Beatrice arrive at the island and spend one summer there before Beatrice disappears from the scene. &nbsp;I&nbsp;did find Theo and Beatrice's story much more interesting, but the story dragged and I lost interest, but kept plodding through. &nbsp;I didn't much care for Hetty. &nbsp;She seemed completely unaware that her plan was not feasible, and distrusted James to the point that it felt more reactionary than because she had a good reason. &nbsp;The romance between Hetty and James was not a&nbsp;surprise, and I was happy about that; it certainly didn't come as a surprise. &nbsp;Beatrice's story is sad, so darn sad; you do get all the answers, eventually, in the last chapter. &nbsp;While this had all the promise of a good gothic mystery, it&nbsp;petered out and felt too long. &nbsp;Nuts. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I give this novel a 3/6 for atmosphere and setting. It is available in paperback and ebook.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, book business. &nbsp;Heading into November, I've got a pretty good list of books to read, and I'll have an upcoming reviews post in a few days. &nbsp;December I traditionally read holiday novels--it's my way of enjoying Christmas and so far I've gathered&nbsp;quite a few new titles for December. &nbsp;I'll be sharing those with you at the end of November. &nbsp;Meanwhile, I am also taking part in NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, which runs from November 1-November 30. &nbsp;It's a way to nudge your inner writer into action, and requires you to write a 50,000 word novel. &nbsp;No editing, no polishing--just get those words down on paper (or Word). &nbsp;It is a challenge to keep writing every day; it's easy to fall behind. &nbsp;I've managed to complete it once, years ago, and am trying again. &nbsp;Wish me luck! &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sue A/K/A</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Bookalicious Babe</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-48801939909892687592017-10-31T07:53:00.000-05:002017-10-31T07:53:19.534-05:00The Last To See Me by M Dressler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVd3fnC0Wd0/Wfcqgh5uI7I/AAAAAAAAFBk/iPJ1xjTsPz4dGeoSlfUMDkZ2zVOnOHXqQCLcBGAs/s1600/34974417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVd3fnC0Wd0/Wfcqgh5uI7I/AAAAAAAAFBk/iPJ1xjTsPz4dGeoSlfUMDkZ2zVOnOHXqQCLcBGAs/s400/34974417.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had to finish out the month of October with a ghost story. &nbsp;Happy Halloween! &nbsp;I spotted this novel while looking at upcoming releases, and when I saw the main character was a ghost, I just had to read it. &nbsp;What I got was part supernatural, part history, part philosophical. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The novel takes place in Benito, California; a small Northern California town&nbsp;previously known in the early 1900's for the timber industry. &nbsp;Now it's a quaint tourist stop. &nbsp;Hunters--ghost hunters--are bonded by law, and hired to clear spirits out of places, and they've done a pretty good&nbsp;job in Benito--except for one ghost.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Emma Rose Finnis died in 1915, and she continues to haunt the town of Benito, and the stately Lambry Mansion. &nbsp;Alice, the last Lambry, has died, and directed the mansion to be sold and the profits to be&nbsp;divided up between her distant family. &nbsp;A&nbsp;obnoxious rich couple want to buy the mansion, and completely gut it and change it from the beautiful home it is into a contemporary monstrosity. &nbsp;Emma won't have it.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philip Pratt is hired to clear out whatever spirit is causing all the trouble at the Lambry Mansion. &nbsp;He teams up with the realtor, Ellen DeWight, to figure out who the spirit is--once he knows their name, he has all the power. &nbsp;Emma is pretty smart, however, and has had plenty of practice honing her skills, and keeping her anger from allowing her to be seen. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The novel switches back and forth&nbsp;between the contemporary plot, and Emma's life as a chambermaid in Benito. &nbsp;Her mother died in childbirth, and her father died from a horrible logging accident, leaving Emma to fend for herself as a teenager. &nbsp;She was a good girl, and only wanted to have a simple life, and maybe find some peace. &nbsp;But that wasn't to be. After attracting the attention of one of the Lambry sons, Mrs. Lambry offers her a position as housekeeper to a family hired to help at the lighthouse on a desolate piece of land. &nbsp;She takes the job, but what should be a means for her to save money and eventually leave quickly turns into a nightmare--and leads to Emma's death. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You feel for Emma. &nbsp;She's at times angry, sorrowful, and lonely. &nbsp;Pratt has a job to do, and&nbsp;sees all spirits as not human, but creatures that harm living people. &nbsp;When he sends them away, he destroys them--and whatever bits of humanity were left disappear. &nbsp;It's an interesting novel, in that you see both sides of the story. &nbsp;It's hard not to sympathize with Emma, however. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ending is a bit of a surprise, for sure. &nbsp;There is more going on that you realize, until the last bit of the book. &nbsp;And as you move closer to learning about Emma's death, the tension does grow. &nbsp;You'll start to think about what death really means, and why some souls move on, and others stay. &nbsp;What is it about a life that keeps us here? &nbsp;And do those souls deserve a place here to heal?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A different kind of ghost story, and a good one. &nbsp;The writing is beautiful, and ethereal. &nbsp;A perfect tale for a dark, spooky night.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;4/6 for a ghost story unlike any other I've read, with a compelling spirit you'll be rooting for, even though you wish her peace. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in hardcover and ebook.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Halloween!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="349" src="https://giphy.com/embed/11CS8OUi0yQNC8" width="480"></iframe><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/happy-halloween-11CS8OUi0yQNC8">via GIPHY</a>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-14606554965910503672017-10-23T08:11:00.000-05:002017-10-23T08:11:51.640-05:00The History of Bees by Maja Lunde<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPAa1TdXafw/We3iJIs9LOI/AAAAAAAAFBE/A7mJW7IwmfcJ5ajSLirjjHUg1j48EzgiACLcBGAs/s1600/32920292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPAa1TdXafw/We3iJIs9LOI/AAAAAAAAFBE/A7mJW7IwmfcJ5ajSLirjjHUg1j48EzgiACLcBGAs/s400/32920292.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My interest in bees is fairly new. Up until about 3 years ago, my only reaction to bees was the painful memory of being stung in my ear by a bee as a kid, and how much it hurt! As I started to garden at my house, I would walk outside and notice the&nbsp;butterflies and bees flitting around my flowers, and I was happy--as long as they stayed away from me.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That slight awareness of bees became an interest when I stumbled upon urban beekeeping articles as I was searching for a paper topic in grad school. &nbsp;From then on, I was interested in bees, and horrified at the mysterious deaths that are sending our bee population into a nosedive. &nbsp;All of that back history drove me to pick up this book at my library. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This novel is told in three separate historical settings: William, a biologist in 1852 England, &nbsp;George, a beekeeper in 2007 Ohio, and Tao, a human pollinator in 2098 China. &nbsp;In Tao's world, the bees have disappeared; world population has plummeted due to food shortages (no bees=no food!), and she is part of a group of workers who climb fruit trees and hand pollinate in order to produce crops. &nbsp;It's endless work; every day, back breaking work with little pay, and very little to eat. &nbsp;Tao lives with her husband and&nbsp;young son, Wei-Wen in a little house near the fields. &nbsp;She hopes for a better future for her son, but has no idea how to make that happen. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">William is in a deep depression. &nbsp;A budding biologist, his hopes of studying and research ended when he married and had children. &nbsp;His former mentor has dismissed William, and now he's spent months lying in bed, as the money runs out and his seed shop remains closed. &nbsp;One day, his son visits him, and provides a spark for William. &nbsp;He finally gets out of bed, determined to begin research again--and finds that bees and hives are his passion. &nbsp;Can he create a new, man made&nbsp;beehive that will revolutionize beekeeping, and provide his family with wealth? &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">George is the latest in his beekeeping family. &nbsp;A successful farmer, he's always made his own beehives from a family&nbsp;plan handed down through the generations. &nbsp;His son Tom is away at college, but George has plans to work along side his son and hand off the family beekeeping operation to the next generation. &nbsp;Tom, however, returns from college a changed man--one who isn't all that interested in beekeeping. &nbsp;It's 2007, and reports of whole bee hives mysteriously dying off has folks puzzled and afraid. &nbsp;Will George manage to keep his farm going?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well. &nbsp;We know it doesn't go well for the bees, thanks to Tao's story. &nbsp;By 2098 the world is decimated--all because of The Collapse. &nbsp;If anything, this novel makes you aware of just how vitally important bees are to, well, <b><i>EVERYTHING</i></b>. &nbsp; &nbsp;It's serious stuff, and not made up fiction. Tao's world can be avoided. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While this could be a novel about&nbsp;hopelessness, it's actually the opposite. &nbsp;Tao's story is the most&nbsp;interesting one, because it's through a horrible tragedy involving Wei-Wen that hope is once again born in the world. You may wonder how these three characters, decades apart, could possibly be connected. &nbsp;Oh, they are--in such a wonderful way. &nbsp;I myself just had to cheer for William at the end of Tao's story. &nbsp;Yes, both William and George (and Tom) are vitally present in 2098 China. &nbsp;A perfect example of how we are all connected, and how much bees have helped sustain life over and over, and will continue to do so--if we just be mindful of them and get out of their way.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took me a while to get&nbsp;through this book. I had some trouble sticking with it, but have to admit Tao's story kept pulling me back, and I'm so glad I finished the novel. &nbsp;It is one of those reads that resonates after you've read it and have time to think about it. &nbsp;I'm definitely going to do my part next Spring and plant plenty of bee-friendly flowers in my&nbsp;yard. This novel may just be the catalyst to your interest in bees, and how incredibly important they are to our survival. There are plenty of books and documentaries about The Collapse, the history of bees, and yes--even how to be an urban beekeeper. &nbsp;Get busy!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;3/6 for a good novel, but one I had to work to get through, until it clicked about 3/4 of the way through and then I raced to finish it. &nbsp;A fascinating look at history, how we all are connected, and the power of bees.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-52693596176887683452017-10-19T06:09:00.002-05:002017-10-19T06:09:35.426-05:00The Scarred Woman by Jussi Adler-Olsen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ptr3pb-ACI/WeiALQyaMrI/AAAAAAAAFAs/lwGDWITWsJ8Q7o1eXTcke-1BnST_lGiSgCLcBGAs/s1600/34128062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ptr3pb-ACI/WeiALQyaMrI/AAAAAAAAFAs/lwGDWITWsJ8Q7o1eXTcke-1BnST_lGiSgCLcBGAs/s400/34128062.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm probably one of the last people to climb aboard the Scandinavian mystery/thriller train, but I've finally taken my seat, and I'm happy to say I get all the excitement. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>The Scarred Woman</b></i>&nbsp;is the 7th novel in the Department Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen. &nbsp;I&nbsp;usually don't like to start a series with the latest book, but I thought I'd give it a shot. &nbsp;For the most part, it worked for me. &nbsp;But, one of the major parts of the novel has a backstory that I wish I was more familiar with before jumping into this novel. &nbsp;Adler-Olsen makes up for that by digging into the story of Rose, one of the investigators for Department Q and not only familiarizing the reader with her sad, troubled past, but actually solving a big puzzle that will help her heal and move forward. &nbsp;Rose is an unforgettable character, and her mental scars from emotional and&nbsp;verbal abuse are so vivid that it's painful to read about her experiences. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So. &nbsp;<b><i>The Scarred Woman</i></b> is really good! &nbsp;It is dark, for sure, but refreshingly so. Like a blast of cold air that wakes you up. &nbsp;In this novel, there is the recent unsolved murder of Rigmor Zimmerman, an elderly woman found dead in a park with head trauma and a substantial amount of money on her person. &nbsp;It resembles a old cold case involving a beautiful young teacher who was also found dead with head trauma over ten years before. &nbsp;While it feels like there should be a connection, I kept thinking it was a far stretch and no way could they be connected. &nbsp;I was wrong. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides Roses' story, which is painful to read, there is the story of Anne-Line, a social worker who is fed up with her job, the unending revolving door of young capable women who live off of the government, and upset about a recent medical diagnosis. &nbsp;Anne-Line is one of those folks who work the same job for years, live quietly alone, and one day wake up to realize they are fed up with the unfairness of life, and decide to do&nbsp;something about it. &nbsp;Anne-Line decides these girls- these lazy, selfish, dregs on society, must die. &nbsp;Her reasoning, her decision making, and her planning are unsettling. &nbsp;So this is how people become unhinged, I thought. &nbsp;How people who can be described as "quiet, hardworking, nice" become killers. &nbsp;Her transformation was chilling. I have to say she was my favorite character in the novel. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it seems that Carl and Assad, two investigators in Department Q, have a lot of seemingly random cases to solve. &nbsp;Jussi Adler-Olsen skillfully weaves them all together, and the end is quite good. &nbsp;Wow. &nbsp;So impressed! &nbsp;I did feel a bit lost a few times, because there is an established history between Carl and Assad, and Rose. &nbsp;I felt I walked in mid-conversation, but it wasn't enough to keep me from getting into this novel and watching it all unfold. &nbsp;I may go back and read the first Department Q novel, <i>The Keeper of Lost Causes. </i>&nbsp;I usually don't read a lot of gritty contemporary mysteries, but this has turned me onto them, and I will certainly read&nbsp;more-especially by Scandinavian authors. &nbsp;There was something very appealing about a mystery set in Copenhagen. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A huge thank you to Dutton/Penguin for a review copy of <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Scarred Woman.</i>&nbsp;Yet again another genre I probably would have never read, but for this review opportunity. &nbsp;Now I've got another whole world of Scandinavian thrillers to explore. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;5/6 for a very clever mystery set in modern Copenhagen. &nbsp;Each plot point in itself is solid and interesting, but the path to solving each mystery and the final solution are fascinating and make for one excellent read. &nbsp;If you're interested in the Department Q novels, I'd start with the first one and work your way up to <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Scarred Woman</i>. &nbsp;Or, you can be like me and&nbsp;jump in--either way will work!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio. &nbsp;</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-26692124180929438462017-10-15T18:45:00.000-05:002017-10-15T18:45:16.134-05:00Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay: A Review and Winner of Giveaway Announced<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JEz6d4mDRJo/WeOXsP8i2ZI/AAAAAAAAFAM/kxGrkY6xZbcMR8GpZtR-oABx1nHxYqI6gCLcBGAs/s1600/34785405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="261" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JEz6d4mDRJo/WeOXsP8i2ZI/AAAAAAAAFAM/kxGrkY6xZbcMR8GpZtR-oABx1nHxYqI6gCLcBGAs/s400/34785405.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">As I said in my previous post about <b><i>Picnic at</i></b> <b><i>Hanging Rock</i></b>, this novel came out of nowhere for me, and after a quick search on the internet, I was intrigued not only by the novel, but by the author, Joan Lindsay.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Joan Lindsay wrote this book in 1967, when she was 70 years old. &nbsp;Her first novel. &nbsp;It became an instant hit. &nbsp;The tale is simple, but as any simple tales go, there's a lot going on underneath the surface. &nbsp;It's February 14, 1900. &nbsp;The young ladies at Appleyard College for Young Ladies in Australia are eager to take a day trip to Hanging Rock, a place ideal for picnics and taking in some fresh air and nature. &nbsp;The group, with Miss McGraw, the mathematics teacher, and Mademoiselle De Poitiers, the popular French teacher as chaperones, take the three hour carriage ride out to Hanging Rock. &nbsp;The plan is to eat lunch, rest, explore a bit (as much as you can in gloves and corsets), and return to Appleyard at 4 PM. &nbsp;Other folks are also there picnicking: Michael Fitzhubert, visiting from England; Albert Crundall, the coachman for Michael's Aunt and Uncle; and Mr. Ben Hussey, the carriage driver. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Miranda is a senior, and the most popular girl at Appleyard. &nbsp;She decides to climb Hanging Rock, and takes along Irma, Marion, and Edith. &nbsp;The girls are seen crossing a creek by Michael and Albert, and then simply disappear. &nbsp;Edith appears later, screaming, hysterical. &nbsp;She can't tell anyone what happened, and no one can find the three missing girls. &nbsp;Oddly enough, Miss McGraw is missing, too. &nbsp;Searches, questions, theories abound. &nbsp;Michael is haunted, and decides to travel back to Hanging Rock to try and find something, anything to answer his questions. &nbsp;Miraculously, he finds Irma weeks after the incident, but in mysterious circumstances and unconscious. The other two girls and Miss McGraw are never seen again; nor is any trace of them ever found. &nbsp;They have simply disappeared into thin air.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">From this dark day, the story moves on to how the disappearances change everyone who is touched by them: the students at Appleyard, the Headmistress of Appleyard, the teachers, Michael and Albert. &nbsp;It's a pretty interesting ending; a bit of a shock to me. &nbsp;According to the foreword, Joan Lindsay had written an ending that explained exactly what happened to the girls, but it was so "out there" (my words) that the publisher had her cut it. &nbsp;There are hints of strangeness, and it's left up to readers to decide for themselves what may have happened to the girls on that lovely summer day. &nbsp;Joan Lindsay herself claimed that the story may or may not be true, and plenty of folks have searched for information over the decades, but have found nothing. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I'm intrigued enough to have placed &nbsp;a hold on the movie at my local library. I can't wait to watch it. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">A huge thank you to Penguin/Random House for providing a copy not only for my review, but a copy to give away to a lucky reader. &nbsp;And the winner of the giveaway is...</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qfOHHQ_4lL0/WePxL9jDrVI/AAAAAAAAFAc/4VEMnWyP1iIPweblqNCOovy3lLiIb36nACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-10-15%2Bat%2B12.25.46%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="418" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qfOHHQ_4lL0/WePxL9jDrVI/AAAAAAAAFAc/4VEMnWyP1iIPweblqNCOovy3lLiIb36nACLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-10-15%2Bat%2B12.25.46%2BPM.png" width="283" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you to all who entered the contest. &nbsp;I am very glad I had the opportunity to read this classic novel, and I think it would make a very good book club discussion--or even better, a classroom discussion. &nbsp;Just&nbsp;goes to show, any book you haven't read (even one 50&nbsp;years old!) is new if you haven't read it yet.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;4/6 for a novel that has &nbsp;a lot to offer towards discussion. &nbsp;What is it about this tale that has stood the test of time? &nbsp;Fascinating!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in paperback and ebook.&nbsp;</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-85596486641201856362017-10-13T11:45:00.001-05:002017-10-13T11:45:10.273-05:00The Fortune Teller by Gwendolyn Womack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1eZp4xkbIU/WeDlpojD8xI/AAAAAAAAE_8/N8HVYVmg9BgiXXI7zg1KfyiVZnJmTqe3gCLcBGAs/s1600/31450952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1eZp4xkbIU/WeDlpojD8xI/AAAAAAAAE_8/N8HVYVmg9BgiXXI7zg1KfyiVZnJmTqe3gCLcBGAs/s400/31450952.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fans of M.J. Rose, Kate&nbsp;Mosse, and Katherine Neville&nbsp;have, no doubt, already discovered Gwendolyn Womack with her first novel, <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Memory Painter. </i>If you haven't, you'd better get busy and start reading.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was one of those novels that I bought, added to my stacks at home, and forgot about for a few months. &nbsp;When I finally plucked it out of a stack to read for October, I spent plenty of time&nbsp;congratulating myself for being smart enough to buy it and finally read it. It's exactly the kind of <span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>historical/magical/thriller/toss-in-just-a-wee-bit-of-romance novel</b> </span>that I relish reading.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two stories in one that eventually blend together. &nbsp;Semele Cavnow is an expert at appraising antiquities for a very exclusive auction house in New York City. &nbsp;She's sent to Geneva to appraise a rare private collection of ancient texts&nbsp;and manuscripts, and finds one written in Greek that is hidden from the rest of the collection. &nbsp;Slowly translating it, she is a bit startled when it appears to be a written by a famous seer who was the daughter of a librarian at the great library in Alexandria. Odder still, this seer addresses Semele by name, and proceeds to&nbsp;foretell many big world events that won't come to pass for thousands of years,&nbsp;long after the seer is gone. &nbsp;Semele is warned that there are people who want the manuscript. &nbsp;Returning to New York with the manuscript and a digital copy (smart lady digitizes the whole manuscript and saves it to her laptop), she's aware that a man is following her, and her boss decides she will be removed from the project and sent to&nbsp;Beijing instead--with no explanation. Furious, Semele keeps translating the text, and learning all about the&nbsp;long line of women who have shared the gift of&nbsp;foretelling, vision, and reading a tarot deck that if found, would fetch an extremely high price. She's in danger, and forces are beginning to draw a net around her.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I quickly became fascinated by the story about the extraordinary women who each sacrificed themselves to keep the tarot deck in safe hands, and to pass it onto the next generation. &nbsp;A long, unbroken line that travels from ancient Alexandria, to Iraq, Greece, England, France, Germany, and eventually America. &nbsp;But how does Semele fit into all of this? &nbsp;That's part of the story. &nbsp;Not only has she found out recently that she's adopted, but she is having flashes of the future, and senses that something bigger than herself is at play.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved this novel! &nbsp;It was all I could do to be a productive member of society last week, because all I wanted to do was sit and read it. &nbsp;The end was truly not at all what I expected, but I thought the author's ability to wrap it all up, bring all that storyline together into one place, was masterful. &nbsp;It answered a lot of questions. &nbsp;Not only did I love the references to the great library of Alexandria, but all the reverence given to libraries, librarians as protectors of knowledge, and the awareness that we have always valued books, libraries, and those who make seeking and protecting knowledge their life's work. Our ties to the past are many and sometimes we forget that. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, I hope you read this and let me know what you think of it. &nbsp;I'm a huge fan of Ms. Womack and have added her to my list of new favorite authors. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;4/6 for an inventive novel about ancestors, an ancient tarot deck, libraries, and finding out our connections to the past. &nbsp;Just enough romance, but not too much; good to read about a smart, capable woman who is an expert in a field that is usually dominated by men.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in paperback and ebook.&nbsp;</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-81453237753333467412017-10-10T08:04:00.000-05:002017-10-10T08:04:02.948-05:00The Widow's House by Carol Goodman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jv2l-xBcNlU/Wdy8Ke25dOI/AAAAAAAAE_s/8yOsopYJC-YNZjCl8cGOS6-35WPFgp81ACLcBGAs/s1600/30653966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="266" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jv2l-xBcNlU/Wdy8Ke25dOI/AAAAAAAAE_s/8yOsopYJC-YNZjCl8cGOS6-35WPFgp81ACLcBGAs/s400/30653966.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a few years since I read my last Carol Goodman novel. &nbsp;I stumbled across her while I was shelving at my bookstore, thought I'd try out her writing, and I'm so glad I did. Her contemporary gothic thrillers are just the kind of novel I enjoy.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;I would compare her to Kate Morton and Simone St. James; if you're a big fan of novels set around the Hudson Valley, you should read not only <b><i>The Widow's House</i></b>, but some of her other novels. She's also&nbsp;written a series for teens: <b><i>Blythewood, Ravencliffe,</i></b> and <b><i>Hawthorn</i></b>. She hasn't forgotten young readers, either:&nbsp;<b><i>The Metropolitans</i></b> looks like a great little mystery, and I'm adding it to my TBR list. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Onto <b><i>The Widow's House</i></b>. &nbsp;Jess and Clare Martin are two writers who have hit rock bottom. &nbsp;Jess' first and only novel, written just out of college, was a big hit, but he's failed miserably writing his second novel. &nbsp;Clare has put aside her own desire to write (she's the better writer of the two) in order to work at a publishing house to makes ends meet. &nbsp;A stressed marriage and no money combine to take the Martins out of New York City and back to Concord, a sleepy village in the Hudson Valley known for its apple orchards and Apple Blossom Queen Festival. &nbsp;It is where Clare grew up, and met Jess at Bailey College. &nbsp;Not a place Clare was eager to return to, as her memories of growing up in a harsh household, knowing she was adopted, has left her feeling a bit adrift. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jess and Clare end up at Riven House, a huge mansion out in the country, where Alden Montague--their former&nbsp;professor at Bailey College, resides in what was once a&nbsp;glorious estate. &nbsp;Taking the caretaker's job means they have an affordable place to stay, and the quiet Jess needs to finish his novel. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But of course things aren't that simple. &nbsp;Clare sees a young woman standing outside; hears a baby cry in the night, and is haunted by the tale of the Mary Foley, her lover&nbsp;Bay&nbsp;Montague, and their tragic ending in 1929. &nbsp;Is it Mary she sees at night near the&nbsp;river, holding her baby? &nbsp;What story does Mary want Clare to tell?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As Clare digs into Mary's story, her own novel starts to take shape at a feverish pace, and her obsession with Mary's tragic life compels Clare to start exploring the house and the secrets it holds. &nbsp;Does she just have a vivid imagination, or is there evil at Riven House? &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've got to say, I enjoyed everything about this novel except the relationship between Jess and Clare. They are obviously an unhappy pair; his treatment of Clare just had me really annoyed and wanting to smack him upside the head. Clare's high school boyfriend is the sheriff in town, and from the first time they meet again, it's obvious he's the good guy, and the man she should be with--not Jess. &nbsp;That was frustrating, waiting for the story to evolve. &nbsp;Other than that, there's enough history, paranormal possibilities, and backstory to make this a novel that you will carry with you everywhere, waiting to read just a few pages. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A perfect Halloween read.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;4/6 for the atmosphere; the story of the Apple Blossom&nbsp;Queen is solid, and Clare is someone to cheer on in her journey to unveil the&nbsp;mysteries of Riven House.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in paperback and e-book.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-41450302158884387222017-10-06T07:35:00.000-05:002017-10-06T07:35:42.695-05:00Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4zMIA-z_bXc/WdQ7yI5jT4I/AAAAAAAAE_Q/aZRT47BBnu4TXyLXH1og04O-l5RpuYhCACLcBGAs/s1600/33571217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4zMIA-z_bXc/WdQ7yI5jT4I/AAAAAAAAE_Q/aZRT47BBnu4TXyLXH1og04O-l5RpuYhCACLcBGAs/s400/33571217.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">This book. &nbsp;Seriously loved it. &nbsp;It came at the right time. It's been sitting in a stack of books for a month or so, I can't believe I managed to hold off as long as I did before I grabbed it and settled in for a good read. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Equal parts humor, sentiment,&nbsp;reflection, and whimsy, Michael&nbsp;Poore's novel about one man's 10,000 lifetimes was such an enjoyable reading experience. Milo is a character that will stay with you long after you've finished the book.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">So Milo has lived 9,995 lives; in the life he has just recently departed, he's eaten by a shark, after having an otherwise pretty good day. &nbsp;He's back on the other side, meeting Death--a woman named Suzie (she prefers that to "Death") and falling back into their love affair. &nbsp;Yes, Milo and Suzie have been lovers for centuries. &nbsp;Suzie isn't all that happy being Death, and tempts fate by quitting. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Meanwhile, Milo has only 5 lives left to reach perfection/get it right/know all the answers in order to become one with the cosmic soul. &nbsp;It's what every soul aims to do. &nbsp;Milo has become well known on the other side because it's taken him so very, very long to reach this state--and if he doesn't get it right very quickly, he'll be shoved off the cosmic sidewalk into nothingness. &nbsp;Every other soul has managed to figure it out long before their allotted 10,000 lives, but Milo just can't seem to get it right. &nbsp;He's come close, but then blows it. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Whether you believe in reincarnation or not, this is a refreshing and humorous look at just how hard it is to get life right. &nbsp;Getting it right means many things to many people, but when we boil it down, it's all about being a good, kind, unselfish person, and putting others before ourselves. &nbsp;Milo's adventures aren't just linear; he looks into a river, picks a life that will help him achieve perfection, and dives into that new life. &nbsp;It can be in India thousands of years ago, or 1920's America. &nbsp;It can be in the future, on another planet after Earth has been ruined by the human race. All lifetimes are happening at the same time. His lives are sometimes short, sometimes long; uneventful, or full of pain. &nbsp;All his other previous lives, however, are a voice in his head, helping and nudging him to make the right choices. &nbsp;Yes, he is wiser in the process, but his human qualities can take over, and ruin what was a pretty good life. Milo is funny, wise, curious, rueful, determined, and a bit of a lazy ass. &nbsp;He reincarnates as men, women, animals, insects; black, white, red,&nbsp;yellow, other&nbsp;worldly. &nbsp;Sometimes with wealth,sometimes very poor. &nbsp;Sometimes healthy and strong,&nbsp;other times with physical limitations. &nbsp;The universe is throwing everything at him and giving him every chance to get it right, but dang it all Milo! &nbsp;He keeps ruining his chance. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I&nbsp;absolutely loved this book. &nbsp;Thinking about it, I realize it leaves me with hope. Hope that there is something bigger than all of us, and we are all working towards perfection--not in our physical world, but in our souls. &nbsp;I don't plan on spending 10,000 lifetimes to find it! &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">6/6 for a fantastic look at life, death, the great cosmic wheel, and how we can get it right. &nbsp;Laugh out loud, poignant, and thoughtful. &nbsp;Fans of Neil Gaiman, Christopher Moore, and Terry Pratchett will enjoy this novel. I hope Michael Poore keeps writing!</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Available in hardcover and ebook.</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-25974441697278961372017-10-05T00:00:00.000-05:002017-10-05T00:00:30.657-05:00Book Giveaway: Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8P2k3gRpjM/WdQ8BxvhBlI/AAAAAAAAE_U/bXrdmmlAoT0tEq1YzpYCwyV1iAyVpYxPgCLcBGAs/s1600/34785405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="261" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8P2k3gRpjM/WdQ8BxvhBlI/AAAAAAAAE_U/bXrdmmlAoT0tEq1YzpYCwyV1iAyVpYxPgCLcBGAs/s400/34785405.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">It never gets old: &nbsp;the&nbsp;surprise I feel when books &nbsp;I've been completely unaware of all my adult reading life pop up on my radar. This is one of those books. &nbsp;And lucky for you, my blog fans, you get a chance to&nbsp;win a copy from Penguin to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this classic. </span>&nbsp;</b></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Here's what Penguin is saying about this newly released paperback edition:</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-style: none none solid; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 16pt;">A 50th-anniversary edition of the landmark novel about three “gone girls” that inspired the acclaimed 1975 film and an upcoming TV series starring Natalie Dormer</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif;">PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK<u></u><u></u></span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif;">by Joan Lindsay<u></u><u></u></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif;">Foreword by Maile Meloy<u></u><u></u></span></b></div><div style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-style: none none solid; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif;">“A sinister tale...laced with touches of other-worldliness”&nbsp;<b>—<i>The Guardian</i></b><br /><br />“Deliciously horrific.”&nbsp;<b>—<i>The Observer</i></b><br /><br />“The fact that most people believed that this palpable fiction was a record of a real event is not merely a tribute to the writer...but a testimony to the atavistic power of its theme.”&nbsp;<b>—<i>The Spectator</i></b><br /><br />“Beautifully haunting.”&nbsp;<b>—<i>The Sun Herald</i>&nbsp;(Australia)<span style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></b><i style="font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></i></span></div><div style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-style: none none solid; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><u></u><u></u><b><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Mysterious and subtly erotic,&nbsp;<b>PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK<i>&nbsp;</i></b>(Penguin Classics; On-sale: October 3, 2017; $16.00; ISBN: 9780143132059) was first published 50 years ago and inspired the iconic 1975 film of the same name by Peter Weir—as well as a six-episode TV series starring&nbsp;<i>Game of Thrones</i>’ Natalie Dormer, scheduled to be released by Amazon next year. Widely considered one of the most important Australian novels of all time, it stands with Shirley Jackson’s&nbsp;<i>We Have Always Lived in the Castle,</i>&nbsp;Daphne du Maurier’s&nbsp;<i>Rebecca,&nbsp;</i>and Jeffrey Eugenides’&nbsp;<i>The Virgin Suicides&nbsp;</i>as a masterpiece of intrigue.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br />On a cloudless summer day in the year 1900, everyone at Appleyard College for Young Ladies agreed it was just right for a picnic at Hanging Rock. After lunch, three girls climbed into the blaze of the afternoon sun, pressing on through the scrub into the shadows of the secluded volcanic outcropping. Farther, higher, until at last they disappeared…. They never returned.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Over the course of four weeks in 1966, Joan Lindsay wrote&nbsp;</span><b><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">, a debut literary novel that became a sensation.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The intrigue surrounding it propelled it into Australia’s national folklore. This new Penguin Classics edition, featuring a foreword by Maile Meloy, author of the recent bestselling novel&nbsp;<i>Do Not Become Alarmed</i>, about the disappearance of four children on a family vacation, celebrates the 50<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;anniversary of the novel’s first publication.<br /><br /><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As Maile Meloy recommends in her foreword, new readers are encouraged to delve into&nbsp;<b>PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK</b>&nbsp;with as little information as possible. For whether these accounts are fictional or true is entirely up to the reader to discern.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;">About the Author:<u></u><u></u></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;">JOAN LINDSAY&nbsp;</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;">was born Joan à Beckett Weigall in Melbourne, Australia, in 1896. She attended Clyde Girls Grammar School, the model for Appleyard College in&nbsp;<i>Picnic at Hanging Rock</i>, and the National Gallery of Victoria Art School, where she studied painting. On Valentine’s Day 1922 she married Daryl Lindsay in London. She chose Valentine’s Day 1900 as the setting for&nbsp;<i>Picnic at Hanging Rock</i>, her best-known work, which was first published in 1967 and is the basis for the 1975 film of the same name by Peter Weir. She died in Melbourne in 1984.</span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;">MAILE MELOY&nbsp;</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;garamond&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt;">(foreword) is the author of the novels&nbsp;<i>Do Not Become Alarmed, Liars and Saints,</i>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<i>A Family Daughter</i>; the story collections&nbsp;<i>Half in Love&nbsp;</i>and&nbsp;<i>Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It&nbsp;</i>(named one of the 10 Best Books of the Year by&nbsp;<i>The New York Times Book Review</i>); and the Apothecary series, a middle-grade trilogy. She has received&nbsp;<i>The Paris Review</i>’s Aga Khan Prize, the PEN/Malamud Award, the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ Rosenthal Award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. She lives in Los Angeles.</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Enter to win a copy! &nbsp;Here's how:</b></span><br /><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="739d2ced9" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/739d2ced9/" id="rcwidget_xo444gtl" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br /><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><br /><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Contest ends at 12 AM on Sunday, October 15th. &nbsp;Open to U.S. residents only. &nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Review and winner will be announced Sunday, October 15th! &nbsp;</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-46476956605124232872017-09-28T08:53:00.000-05:002017-09-28T08:55:26.432-05:00That Month Where I'll Be Reading When I'm Not Working or Sleeping: October Reads and Those Pesky DNF'S<span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I'm still a bit far from my goal of 100 books this year. &nbsp;It seems like a pretty easy thing to achieve; after all, I read every&nbsp;day for an hour minimum. &nbsp;If I'm lucky, I get in a chunk of 4 hours. &nbsp;I had a glorious streak about 5 years ago, where my reading capacity was amazing, and I not only met my reading goal, but blew past it. All I can say now is that life is even busier when I thought it would slow down, and my chances of having chunks of time to read have become less and less. &nbsp;Still, I'm trying a Hail Mary to get closer to my goal before December 31st. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Part of that goal is to read some of the books I've bought over the past few years&nbsp;that are still sitting on my bookcases. &nbsp;I am definitely someone who gets easily distracted by new books and pretty covers. &nbsp;My discipline goes out the window! Before I talk about my reads for October (which is the gateway to my favorite reading months--cool days and chilly nights), I have to discuss my Did Not Finish books. &nbsp;Dang it.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRF7cw9TZVA/Wcz2x-Us69I/AAAAAAAAE-A/gt0yDmtgtB426PHNtbw2myNwlUeDATQjACLcBGAs/s1600/32283424-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRF7cw9TZVA/Wcz2x-Us69I/AAAAAAAAE-A/gt0yDmtgtB426PHNtbw2myNwlUeDATQjACLcBGAs/s320/32283424-1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>&nbsp;<span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I tried really hard to get into this book, but I found myself not very interested. &nbsp;I enjoyed The Little Paris Bookshop quite a bit, so I was disappointed I&nbsp;couldn't find my groove with this one. &nbsp;I'll probably try again next year. &nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fTBJm33a7UA/Wcz2x7of6BI/AAAAAAAAE98/PA-Citvvx_soqw6rAA9bhPjHVbCBor3IACLcBGAs/s1600/32452160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fTBJm33a7UA/Wcz2x7of6BI/AAAAAAAAE98/PA-Citvvx_soqw6rAA9bhPjHVbCBor3IACLcBGAs/s320/32452160.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>&nbsp;<span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Ah, Strange Practice. &nbsp;Sure to be a series, or at least have a sequel or two. &nbsp;I've enjoyed reading this book very much--I started it on vacation in July. &nbsp;However, I lost my reading mojo and now am stuck 3/4 of the way through. &nbsp;It's still lying next to my bed, waiting for me to pick it back up. &nbsp;I'll probably finish it before the end of the year, but for now, it's not going to be picked up again anytime soon. A doctor in London who takes care of supernatural creatures, with a vampire as a bestie? &nbsp;A great concept, and I like all the characters. &nbsp;Oh, how I wish I'd finished it on the plane ride home. &nbsp;Dang it.&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llwWe6UG4Gs/Wcz2x_YfvMI/AAAAAAAAE-E/lDn8SQtk87ckvZHavP3ia__EuoMndaNxwCLcBGAs/s1600/32600758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llwWe6UG4Gs/Wcz2x_YfvMI/AAAAAAAAE-E/lDn8SQtk87ckvZHavP3ia__EuoMndaNxwCLcBGAs/s320/32600758.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Another novel I read great reviews on that had me checking it out of the library as soon as it was available. &nbsp;A Viking historical saga full of pillaging, raping, and the struggle to avenge an attempted murder all make it fascinating. &nbsp;I just didn't have the time to really sit down and concentrate, which is what this novel deserves. &nbsp;I'll probably try again when it's in paperback. &nbsp;Sometimes reading a hardcover book is&nbsp;tough for me, knowing I'll have a second chance and probably buy the paperback--then I'll read it. &nbsp;Even though I didn't finish it, I would say it would make an&nbsp;excellent Christmas gift for fans of historical sagas, and those curious about the Viking way of life. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Now, without further ado, I present my October reads. &nbsp;I like to read novels that are on the dark&nbsp;side in order to get my Halloween groove on--when I'm not watching paranormal shows on TV. &nbsp;And because too much of the dark stuff drags me down, I've tossed in a few other reads that will lighten me up. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-knE-6z10kWM/Wcz6JSi_t4I/AAAAAAAAE-U/T4ag3a5SB5sfUr4NLduqLfm4SrDvubyygCLcBGAs/s1600/25814507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-knE-6z10kWM/Wcz6JSi_t4I/AAAAAAAAE-U/T4ag3a5SB5sfUr4NLduqLfm4SrDvubyygCLcBGAs/s320/25814507.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Bookshelf read that has waited too long!</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cof_Om6swHg/Wcz6JVGwMKI/AAAAAAAAE-Q/VR-QpWNeNi4BW2-ISTLEdJ_cWRKdwKLTwCLcBGAs/s1600/30653966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="266" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cof_Om6swHg/Wcz6JVGwMKI/AAAAAAAAE-Q/VR-QpWNeNi4BW2-ISTLEdJ_cWRKdwKLTwCLcBGAs/s320/30653966.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I'm a fan of Carol Goodman and love her Gothic tales</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7WkidwRhqjg/Wcz6JZAPPtI/AAAAAAAAE-Y/Iiw_wHaE8TgQE61ssK9p65gKS9FdH2-nACLcBGAs/s1600/31450952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7WkidwRhqjg/Wcz6JZAPPtI/AAAAAAAAE-Y/Iiw_wHaE8TgQE61ssK9p65gKS9FdH2-nACLcBGAs/s320/31450952.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Saw this on the web and it looks like an&nbsp;excellent &nbsp;combination of history, antiques, and ancient prophecies</span>.&nbsp;</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TvTp43_jY0M/Wcz6J6C5dZI/AAAAAAAAE-c/Vrw8wsVfhOMZ58gPMXOv2PfBE9xsCdTTgCLcBGAs/s1600/32075671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TvTp43_jY0M/Wcz6J6C5dZI/AAAAAAAAE-c/Vrw8wsVfhOMZ58gPMXOv2PfBE9xsCdTTgCLcBGAs/s320/32075671.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I've had many friends read this and tell me it's fantastic. &nbsp;A novel about what's going on in our world today. &nbsp;</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQ7l8eDszkw/Wcz6KbYg0kI/AAAAAAAAE-g/7r4mMU03OLACRzEtJFNKGYkrhiQ6YbjtACLcBGAs/s1600/32920292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQ7l8eDszkw/Wcz6KbYg0kI/AAAAAAAAE-g/7r4mMU03OLACRzEtJFNKGYkrhiQ6YbjtACLcBGAs/s320/32920292.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I love bees! &nbsp;Three stories told in past, present and future. &nbsp;</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9EbePOju1MI/Wcz6KmsnzMI/AAAAAAAAE-k/nm1TejS-p2Y7yuo4hcGb0DkEUyPpWWtywCLcBGAs/s1600/33296288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9EbePOju1MI/Wcz6KmsnzMI/AAAAAAAAE-k/nm1TejS-p2Y7yuo4hcGb0DkEUyPpWWtywCLcBGAs/s320/33296288.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">This caught my eye; not sure what to expect.&nbsp;</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bj6Uv3GtMxo/Wcz6LB6j7ZI/AAAAAAAAE-o/X0z5mfqXDwM49Jwajs2pdTa98sPxXYttACLcBGAs/s1600/33571217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bj6Uv3GtMxo/Wcz6LB6j7ZI/AAAAAAAAE-o/X0z5mfqXDwM49Jwajs2pdTa98sPxXYttACLcBGAs/s320/33571217.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I'm reading this now, and LOVING IT. &nbsp;Similar to Christopher Moore.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5CUDsY_G74/Wcz-FNuMy3I/AAAAAAAAE-4/gmGfjtEYiB4uvTorGj8u0W7N2_GiljuRACLcBGAs/s1600/33155461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5CUDsY_G74/Wcz-FNuMy3I/AAAAAAAAE-4/gmGfjtEYiB4uvTorGj8u0W7N2_GiljuRACLcBGAs/s320/33155461.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A favorite author--can't wait to read it!</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f3b_xCj6GP4/Wcz6Lb2HtcI/AAAAAAAAE-s/XY7CejHQj1UFQXH0jRsz3P2utdjOT0fVgCLcBGAs/s1600/34128062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f3b_xCj6GP4/Wcz6Lb2HtcI/AAAAAAAAE-s/XY7CejHQj1UFQXH0jRsz3P2utdjOT0fVgCLcBGAs/s320/34128062.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>New to this author; publisher review request. &nbsp;It's a hefty hardcover, but&nbsp;I'm eager to dip into the Nordic &nbsp;crime &nbsp;genre. &nbsp;Better late than never!</b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif; text-align: center;">I've got a few other titles that will sprinkle in throughout the month. &nbsp;Watch for an upcoming book giveaway. &nbsp;Happy Fall reading! &nbsp;The Bookalicious Babe</span><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif; text-align: center;">🍂👻🎃</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-16646589249724869632017-09-24T15:33:00.000-05:002017-09-24T15:33:51.629-05:00Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zg2uo1hV8HI/WcgNJcnwVBI/AAAAAAAAE9o/XuLQt3H_x90wXooq0mJbzbqj9fEbWWaFQCLcBGAs/s1600/32620349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zg2uo1hV8HI/WcgNJcnwVBI/AAAAAAAAE9o/XuLQt3H_x90wXooq0mJbzbqj9fEbWWaFQCLcBGAs/s400/32620349.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I usually do a bit of pre-reading work before I read most of my books. &nbsp;By&nbsp;pre-reading work, I mean that I read a synopsis, some reviews...get the lay of the land, so to speak. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did not do that for this novel; instead I was captivated by the title, and decided I had to read it without having much of any idea of the plot. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took me about halfway through the novel to finally rid myself of the idea that somewhere in the Bright Ideas Bookstore there was a mystical, magical, fantasy storyline just waiting to pop out. &nbsp;Nope. &nbsp;Nothing like that at all. Add in a Gas N' Donuts place, and I thought: okay, maybe I'm wrong about the fantasy part, but I bet it's quirky. Yep. A quirky bookstore novel. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wrong again. It's actually a crime novel, with a bookstore as a significant setting. Here's a short summary, because I don't want to give anything away: &nbsp;Lydia works at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, in a part of Denver that's seeing a revitalization. &nbsp;She's befriended Joey, a young man who has no one and no where to go. &nbsp;He spends hours at the bookstore, reading and watching people.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One night, as Lydia is closing up the bookstore, she realizes Joey hasn't come down from the third floor. &nbsp;Irritated, she goes up to the third floor, only to find Joey hanging in the history section. &nbsp;Curiously, a photo of Lydia as a small child is found sticking out of his jeans&nbsp;pocket. Devastated by Joey's suicide, Lydia scrambles to figure out why, why?! She's been asked to clean out Joey's apartment, and while she does, she finds a box of books that are meant for her. Inside the books, Joey's cut out bit of sentences, leaving little bits of the books missing. Through some smart observation, Lydia starts putting the pieces of the book mystery together, and instead of making things clearer, it only pulls her deeper into the mystery of Joey's life, and death. And they are, somehow, linked to Lydia's past.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lydia is an interesting character. &nbsp;At age ten, she was the only survivor to a horrible murder that remains unsolved. &nbsp;Her father, a librarian, moves them away from Denver, and he himself slowly changes from the loving father Lydia knows to a withdrawn, sad man who slowly closes out his daughter. &nbsp;Leaving home after high school graduation, Lydia returns to Denver, and becomes a bookseller--the one place where she feels at home. &nbsp;Her past remains past, as she strives to escape the "Little Lydia"&nbsp;nickname the newspapers gave her, all those years ago. &nbsp;She doesn't talk about her past, and doesn't have anything to do with her father.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joey's suicide stirs things up in Lydia's life; I have to say it was a pretty good storyline that brought Joey's random, sad life and Lydia's dysfunctional adult life together. &nbsp;I kept wondering just how the two would come together, and that kept me reading. &nbsp;It wasn't surprising to find out who was the murderer, but it was&nbsp;interesting to find out why this&nbsp;person committed the crime. Most poignant of all was the short life of Joey. &nbsp;A young man who never had a family, felt&nbsp;completely alone, abandoned, and lost. &nbsp;A struggle for a meaningful life that ended with a final blow that he just couldn't overcome. &nbsp;Joey's character is pretty powerful, even though he's dead for the majority of the novel. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did come around after a bit and did enjoy the novel, even though I still have a faint disappointment that it wasn't what I had hoped for. &nbsp;You know how you think the cookie is chocolate chip, but&nbsp;instead it's oatmeal raisin? &nbsp;You'll eat it anyway, and enjoy it, but darn it all, it should have been chocolate chip. &nbsp;That's how I feel about this novel. Matthew Sullivan is a gifted writer, and his descriptions of Denver and the bookstore anchor you in the story. &nbsp;It's a quick read, and you'll keep reading, because you want to find out what the heck is going on, and how Lydia and Joey are connected. &nbsp;It all connects back to Lydia's childhood and that horrible murder. &nbsp;Read it and see what you think. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;3/6 for a well crafted&nbsp;crime novel that also addresses the plight of the homeless, the abandoned, and the foster care system in our country. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in hardcover, e-book, and audio.</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-29897771484744773942017-09-21T09:25:00.000-05:002017-09-21T09:25:43.735-05:00See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm7aK5clL7s/WcPCNGvvkgI/AAAAAAAAE9E/kST3X9cXT_QjRFE1bPMWFUndfNhM-SQ8QCLcBGAs/s1600/32508637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm7aK5clL7s/WcPCNGvvkgI/AAAAAAAAE9E/kST3X9cXT_QjRFE1bPMWFUndfNhM-SQ8QCLcBGAs/s400/32508637.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A friend of mine talked about this book in last month's book group, and I gladly accepted his offer to read the book this month. &nbsp;It had been on my radar for a few months, and after Kirk's review of it, I couldn't wait to dig in--and this was the perfect introduction to my favorite holiday, Halloween. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lizzie Borden, as we know, is infamous for the murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and her step-mother, Abby Borden, on August 4, 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts. &nbsp;They were both bludgeoned to death by an ax in their home: &nbsp;Abby upstairs in the guest bedroom; Andrew lying on the couch in a downstairs parlor. &nbsp;Lizzie was charged with their murders, brought to trial, and found not guilty. &nbsp;She lived the rest of her life in Fall River, a bit of a pariah, and died in 1927 of pneumonia. &nbsp;She never married. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mxqot4KizRE/WcPJ_yhQ92I/AAAAAAAAE9U/Wn3jHxiVuTQuf_ngg90Zf26aHxqGXLDEgCLcBGAs/s1600/Lizzie_borden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="398" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mxqot4KizRE/WcPJ_yhQ92I/AAAAAAAAE9U/Wn3jHxiVuTQuf_ngg90Zf26aHxqGXLDEgCLcBGAs/s400/Lizzie_borden.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lizzie Borden</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are the basic facts. &nbsp;What Sarah Schmidt has done is to recreate the days leading up to the murders, and the few days after the murders, as told through the eyes of Lizzie, her older sister Emma, the maid Bridget, and a very unsettling young man named Benjamin. &nbsp;Moving back and forth between these characters, we learn bits and pieces of events surrounding the murders, and a little bit about each person. &nbsp;It quickly becomes apparent that each had a motive for murder, and at least two of them are completely unhinged. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The brilliance of this novel is the unbalanced feeling you have while reading it. &nbsp;The best&nbsp;analogy I can use is to imagine yourself on the deck of a ship in the middle of a storm,&nbsp;trying to constantly keep your balance; shifting your weight, wondering when the next roll of the deck will come. &nbsp;That's how I felt, especially while reading from Lizzie's viewpoint. &nbsp;Her&nbsp;behavior and thoughts are, at times, downright repulsive. &nbsp;Her tangled relationship with Emma, her love/hate for her father, and her disdain for her stepmother all are constantly changing as her mind wanders between the brutal present and the past. &nbsp;Bridget is the only&nbsp;really normal character. &nbsp;Stuck as a maid for the&nbsp;Bordens, she's been saving her money in a tin box underneath her bed, so she can leave and go back home to Ireland. &nbsp;When Mrs. Borden finds out she wants to leave, she takes away Bridget's tin full of money. &nbsp;Bridget's resentment of Mrs. Borden, her feelings of helplessness, and her awareness that "this family just&nbsp;isn't right" (my words, not hers) seems like the only normal part of the story. &nbsp;Everyone else's views are subject to half-truths, truths, and lies.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Benjamin is one awful man. &nbsp;He's sent by Lizzie and Emma's Uncle John to take care of Andrew Borden. &nbsp;Take care of how, it's not quite clear, but would involve violence. &nbsp;He's really angry when he arrives and things aren't what Uncle John promised. &nbsp;Don't even get me started on the high creep factor Uncle John brings to the story. &nbsp;His treatment of Lizzie made my flesh crawl; sexual predator came to my mind more than once. &nbsp;Emma's a whole lot more aware of Uncle John's creepiness and keeps well away from him.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are two points in the story where you realize who committed the murders, and when two other characters realize who committed the murders. &nbsp;One of the turning points is fairly quiet, but made me say "Holy Crap!"&nbsp;out loud. &nbsp;The other involves the murder weapon, and what becomes of it. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sara Schmidt is a gifted writer. &nbsp;Her ability to set you&nbsp;squarely in the Borden home on those hot, humid, awful days creates a the illusion in your mind that you're kind of a peeper, standing in the corners, watching it all unfold.The smells, the textures, the descriptions of food may leave you queasy. I can say the word 'mutton' makes me feel a bit ill. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recommend this novel for book groups,&nbsp;folks who love true crime, and anyone who likes a good psychological thriller. &nbsp;The big theme is the powerlessness women felt while under the thumb of their father; their inability to create a life on their own without the approval of parents, and the frustration that created. &nbsp;Power is a very big theme--it can bring wealth, but it can also bring resentment, chaos, and violence. &nbsp;While the murders to this day remain unsolved, Sarah Schmidt has her own idea of who was guilty of the crimes. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just in case you're&nbsp;interested, the Borden house is now run as a Bed and Breakfast, and you can stay in the room where Abby Borden was murdered. &nbsp;It's also known to be haunted by Andrew Borden. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;5/6 for a fantastic imaging of the&nbsp;Borden murders. &nbsp;Highly recommend. A writer who brings all of your senses into play.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in hardcover, and e-book.&nbsp;</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-70709429662337472632017-09-17T16:26:00.000-05:002017-09-17T16:26:27.628-05:00Once in a Blue Moon Lodge by Lorna Landvik<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GF2RH8Pi4VA/Wb7K-fECZbI/AAAAAAAAE8w/M17Dj12YHM4F8Ub3LKhggomKx1-t3c7kwCLcBGAs/s1600/32738105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GF2RH8Pi4VA/Wb7K-fECZbI/AAAAAAAAE8w/M17Dj12YHM4F8Ub3LKhggomKx1-t3c7kwCLcBGAs/s400/32738105.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finding this book in the library was a very happy surprise. &nbsp;I immediately checked it out and was able to zip through it in a few days. &nbsp;I read Lorna Landvik's <i style="font-weight: bold;">Patty Jane's House of Curl&nbsp;</i>years ago and had enjoyed it but it has been so many years I didn't remember much of the story. I can only remember that it took place in Minnesota and I liked it very much. &nbsp;Plus, I needed a bit of space after reading <b><i>A Column of Fire.</i></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In <b><i>Once in a Blue Moon Lodge</i></b>, we return to&nbsp;Minnesota,1988. &nbsp;Patty Jane has decided it's time to close down her <i>House of Curl,</i> <i>etc. </i>&nbsp;What began as a hair salon morphed into not only a place where you could get a color and a cut, but a salon where the neighbors attended salsa dancing, author visits, music recitals, and all sorts of classes and events. &nbsp;It was truly an unusual place, and quite popular. &nbsp;But Patty Jane is ready to travel and enjoy time with her live in partner, Clyde. &nbsp;Patty's husband, Thor, also lives in the same house. &nbsp;What I didn't remember from <i style="font-weight: bold;">PJHOC</i>&nbsp;was that Patty's husband Thor had left her while she was pregnant with their daughter Nora. Missing for years, he eventually is found and welcomed back into Patty Jane's family. Still legally married to Thor, Patty Jane has an unusual life, for sure--but it all makes sense, and you'll quickly be pulled into the loving, funny, and entertaining Rolvaag family. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story moves forward from 1988, with Nora making some life choices that have huge consequences for the whole family. &nbsp;One of those choices--purchasing a lodge on a lake renamed Ocean by the local townspeople, sets up the rest of the novel. That lodge is named for the blue moon that shines on a significant night in Nora's life. &nbsp;And I'd&nbsp;like to live at that lodge!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;As the years go by, you feel like you're part of the Rolvaag family, and it's a pretty sweet family. &nbsp;The stories of Patty Jane and Clyde, her mother-in-law Ione and her husband Edon (who remind us all that it's never too late for love), and Nora and Thomas are all, at heart, love stories. &nbsp;All a bit unusual, but steadfast and enduring. As life moves on, and the years go by, the Rolvaag family creates all those precious moments that make up a unique family history. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While this is a sequel to <i style="font-weight: bold;">PJHOC</i>, it can be read as a stand alone. &nbsp;Lorna Landvik lays enough back story for you to catch up on the family history and not&nbsp;feel like you've missed anything. &nbsp;But, I can say with certainty that you'll want to read <i style="font-weight: bold;">PJHOC </i>because you'll love the writing, the community, and the warmth. &nbsp;I'd say this reminded me of an American version of a Jenny Colgan novel. Toss in a whole lot of Norwegian culture, Midwest charm, and some delicious baking, and I think you'll find this read as irresistible as I did. Both novels would make an excellent Christmas gift .</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;4/6 for a welcome return to Minnesota. &nbsp;Landvik's characters are well crafted, charming, and memorable--especially Ione and Edon. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-14966611281319563492017-09-11T21:20:00.000-05:002017-09-11T21:22:32.079-05:00A Column of Fire (Kingsbridge, #3) by Ken Follett<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4oMvJVFIhWY/WbcskaSV55I/AAAAAAAAE8c/VkmYqwG-PewjhOJex8sFXr1jiaAgvlrcgCLcBGAs/s1600/33571713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4oMvJVFIhWY/WbcskaSV55I/AAAAAAAAE8c/VkmYqwG-PewjhOJex8sFXr1jiaAgvlrcgCLcBGAs/s400/33571713.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">What does one do when given the opportunity to read Ken Follett's latest novel a few weeks before it is released by the publisher--and it's 928 pages? &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">READ EVERY CHANCE YOU GET. &nbsp;That's&nbsp;what I did, and managed to read this in a week on my Nook. &nbsp;I even snuck in a few short reading breaks for a few other books I'm reading, too. &nbsp;I finished last night, and had to take some time to absorb the spectacle of Ken Follett and Elizabethan England. This was an emotional journey all wrapped up in a wonderfully written novel. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">If you've ever read Mr. Follett's <b><i>Pillars of the</i></b> <b><i>Earth</i></b>, or <b><i>World Without End</i></b>, you know they are set in Kingsbridge, a fictional town in England that has a spectacular cathedral at the center of town. &nbsp;The cool bit about the books is that they take place hundreds of years apart, so you can read each one without reading the others. &nbsp;Each stands alone. &nbsp;While you might be a bit apprehensive of the size (this book clocks in at 928 pages), I assure you it is well worth the effort. &nbsp;It's the perfect book for a chilly evening because it's so weighty you quite happily sit for hours with it propped up on your lap. And, of course, a glass of wine at your side.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Ken Follett's gift is his ability to make history come alive, and in such a way that you don't even realize how big his books are--pages speed by, and you'll find yourself reading 100-200 pages every evening; sometimes more if you've got the time. &nbsp;His characters, both actual historical figures and fictional figures, are so well drawn that you'll become attached and your heart will leap when they're in danger, and cheer when things go right for them. The tale begins in 1558 and ends in 1620. &nbsp;Who survives to the end?</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">So let's talk about the plot. &nbsp;It begins in 1558, with a young Ned Willard sailing home to Kingsbridge after a year abroad. &nbsp;He's eager to meet Margery Fitzgerald, a lovely young woman from a wealthy Catholic family in Kingsbridge. He hopes she hasn't forgotten him, because he's madly in love with her and hopes to marry her. &nbsp;It would be a very good match--Ned's family is a prosperous one that has&nbsp;known the&nbsp;Fitzgerald family for years. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Ned and Margery's hope for a future together is destroyed by her father and brother Rollo's ambitions: to be linked to the Viscount Shiring family through Margery's marriage to young Bart. Ambition and ruthlessness rule their world. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">The Fitzgeralds are a conniving family, and&nbsp;fervent Catholics. &nbsp;Queen Mary Tudor (Bloody Mary) is a staunch Catholic and has been arresting and burning Protestants in England. &nbsp;This is just the beginning of the decades long&nbsp;bloody struggle between Catholics and Protestants, not only in England, but in France, Spain, and the Netherlands. &nbsp;The major players: &nbsp;Queen Mary, Princess Elizabeth, and Mary, Queen of Scots (and eventual Queen of France); the Pope and King Philip of Spain are just part of the multiple story lines that weave themselves into one big glorious tale that begins in 1558 and ends in 1620. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">There are some devious, evil men that keep the story moving along across England, France, and Spain. &nbsp;Pierre, a French man determined to rise through the ranks of the French monarchy is one of the biggest creeps around! &nbsp;At first he's kind of charming, if smarmy, but he quickly progresses into a Catholic spy for the powerful Catholics, using his charm to gather information&nbsp;on Protestants who are worshipping in secret. &nbsp;He's truly loathsome. &nbsp;Rollo is another nasty man; his world eventually collides with Pierre's as they join forces to topple the&nbsp;fragile religious tolerance Queen Elizabeth has forged in England. &nbsp;They won't rest until Mary, Queen of Scots is on the throne of England as the true and rightful heir. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Oh, it's a mess. &nbsp;Spies, treachery, murder, forbidden passion, betrayal...machinations every which way. &nbsp;While I didn't know a lot about the struggle between Catholics and Protestants, I&nbsp;certainly got an education reading this novel. &nbsp;Religious intolerance is a huge theme throughout the novel. That, and the belief by some people that Elizabeth was not the true heir to the&nbsp;English throne propel the plot through decades of bloodshed and political unrest. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Argh! &nbsp;I could go on and on. &nbsp;I haven't even told you about some of the other characters that populate this epic tale. &nbsp;Sylvie, for one--this woman is tough as nails and willing to risk her life every day&nbsp;for her beliefs. &nbsp;She's one of my favorite characters in the novel. &nbsp;Margery is also a tough cookie; she takes the cards she's dealt and makes a life&nbsp;that works for her. &nbsp;"Nevertheless, she persisted" is so applicable to these two women--as well as the other strong women who make their mark in so many big and small ways. &nbsp;You will root for the good guys, and be really pissed at the bad guys. &nbsp;If anything, you'll have a better understanding of the complexities that&nbsp;fueled the upheavals of the sixteenth century. &nbsp;Toss in the thrilling battle between the English Navy and the Spanish Armada, and you've got a fantastic read for September. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">A HUGE thank you to Viking Books for the opportunity to read and review A Column of Fire. &nbsp;This made my year. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Available September 12th in the United States in hardcover, ebook, and audio book. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;6/6 for one amazing read. &nbsp;Wow.&nbsp;</span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-55860462920395605552017-09-07T09:01:00.000-05:002017-09-07T09:01:53.309-05:00Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zDJjM72lV6s/WbFGQdNIgAI/AAAAAAAAE8I/AbysiRb717EUjKbnw1pq2YuewV3d4tWtwCLcBGAs/s1600/34200946-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zDJjM72lV6s/WbFGQdNIgAI/AAAAAAAAE8I/AbysiRb717EUjKbnw1pq2YuewV3d4tWtwCLcBGAs/s400/34200946-1.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of us who still keep our childhood copies of the <i>Little House</i>&nbsp;books on our bookshelves, this soon to be published novel about Caroline Ingalls is like a long lost friend returning for a brief visit. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Ma", as we all know and love her, was the gentle, firm, yet loving mother to Mary, Laura, Carrie, and Grace. &nbsp;In many ways she has always been a bit one dimensional; seen through the eyes of her daughter, Laura, we only see Ma as the wise mother, always deferring to her husband. Well, hold your hat, because we see Ma as Caroline, pioneer woman, loving mother, and lover (yes, I said lover) in this retelling of <b style="font-style: italic;">Little House on the Prairie. </b>Wonder where Laura got her moxie? Yes, some of it from her father, but pretty much 90% from her mother.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The novel begins in Wisconsin, as Charles' wanderlust leads him and his family to pack their&nbsp;worldly goods&nbsp;into a wagon and head to Kansas. &nbsp;Caroline is newly pregnant with Carrie, and doesn't want to&nbsp;leave everything and everyone she holds dear. &nbsp;Yet, she must follow her husband; she knows Charles will be unhappy if he stays in an increasingly crowded Big Woods. &nbsp;The scene where the Ingalls family say farewell to family and their beloved little cabin is really heartbreaking. &nbsp;Caroline holds it together, but just barely. &nbsp;Full of fear of the unknown, yet excitement to be starting new in Kansas, she is strong and mindful of the examples she must set for her two young daughters, who see everything. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Charles' and Caroline's journey to Kansas in modern times would be so many hours in one day if they traveled by car. &nbsp;But for them, it took weeks. &nbsp;Dangerous creek crossings, horrible storms, loneliness, food rations and the dangers of one family traveling alone keep the tension up. &nbsp;Caroline's growing fears for her unborn child set her on edge: when will the baby move; how will she give birth by herself out on the prairie?&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Caroline and Charles' relationship is one of mutual love and respect. &nbsp;They know each other so well that just a look or a certain phrase signals how each other feels. &nbsp;It's clear they adore each other, and support each other in every way. &nbsp;Yes, I have to admit my 10 year old self cringed a bit reading the few love scenes, but they were appropriate and tasteful, and brought home again that Charles and Caroline are not just Pa and Ma, but two people who have come together to create a family and a future together. If you have ever shared hopes and dreams with a partner, you will completely understand this marriage. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once the Ingalls family arrives in Kansas, they quickly work to build a cabin and settle in before winter. &nbsp;We meet Mr. Edwards, and Mrs. Scott, a neighbor who meets Caroline on the day she arrives to help deliver Carrie. &nbsp;Caroline longs for her family during labor, but realizes the gift of Mrs. Scott. &nbsp;Such an intimate time to meet someone for the first time, but a bond develops between the two women because of where they are--women need to stick together. &nbsp;It reinforces the hardships pioneer women endured settling the American West. &nbsp;Brave, brave women. &nbsp;Hardworking women. &nbsp;Women who endured so much sorrow, but kept on; so much to admire as I sit sipping my tea in my comfortable home. &nbsp;I've got it good, because they did all the hard work. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This novel follows <i>Little House on the Prairie</i>&nbsp;fairly closely, but told instead from the perspective of an adult woman. While the story may have been familiar, it was refreshingly different from Caroline's point of view. &nbsp;Perhaps reading this as an adult with some life experience also gave it some weight. &nbsp;In any case, this was a welcome return to childhood, with a bit of poignancy attached to it. &nbsp;It was also a chance to get to know Caroline: a strong woman who constantly thought about how she could understand and adapt to her changing world. She faced fear and instead of bowing to it, she met it head on with courage.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;5/6 for a well written return to the Little House books. &nbsp;The writing immediately reminded me of Laura Ingalls Wilder's writing style; I expect fans will embrace this novel and add it to their collections. &nbsp;Since it does focus heavily on Charles and Caroline (two young married folks who, quite frankly, have a healthy lust for each other), I would recommend reading it first before passing it onto young readers. &nbsp;It also shows racial tensions between white and Indians, and the prejudices and misinformation that were common at the time. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available September 19th, 2017 in the United States in hardcover, large print, ebook, and audio.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-59092335309045649212017-09-03T00:00:00.000-05:002017-09-03T00:00:02.377-05:00Lies She Told by Cate Holahan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ7SjhEjA38/WalPy8lNzJI/AAAAAAAAE7w/R4657cdsq8E3J-z7oL5-0Iog_Gv3o-hYwCLcBGAs/s1600/34064624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="199" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ7SjhEjA38/WalPy8lNzJI/AAAAAAAAE7w/R4657cdsq8E3J-z7oL5-0Iog_Gv3o-hYwCLcBGAs/s320/34064624.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><b><i><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Lies She Told</span></i></b><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;"> is a novel that blurs reality and fiction and adds in two unreliable narrators.&nbsp; What you get is a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the curtain to whoosh open, revealing the truth.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Liza Cole is an author who's had a respectable run publishing novels, but now she's stuck, and under a deadline to produce another novel in quick time, or she will probably lose her contract.&nbsp; She's struggling with infertility; taking hormones and trying desperately to engage her husband in this latest round of treatments.&nbsp; He's grown distant, and it's no wonder:&nbsp; his best friend and law partner Nick is missing, and no one has a clue what's happened to him. &nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Liza's novel begins to take shape in the form of Beth, a new mother who is also riding the hormone train, and feeling a bit insecure regarding her husband's affections.&nbsp; As a reader, it took me awhile to get it in my head that Beth was the creation of Liza, and not another character living in Liza's New York reality.&nbsp; I guess that means Liza has a possible hit novel on her hands, if only she can stick with it!&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;Blurred lines play a big part in the storyline:&nbsp; headaches, hormones, shady memories--or no memories at all.&nbsp; Liza's experimental hormone therapy has some seriously bad side effects but she's unwilling to give up what may be her last chance to conceive. She also likes to drink, and that just adds to the uncertainty of Liza's view of the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Beth and Liza's worlds are similar, and as you read you realize they're not only similar, but may be more horribly connected than you thought.&nbsp; You get bits and pieces of Liza's past colliding with the present, and you can feel her desperation to gain her husband's attention not only through <i>her</i> thoughts, but as reflected <i>in Beth's story</i>.&nbsp; It's the best writing Liza's done in years, but how far is it from reality? &nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">I don't want to give anything away, but holy cow even if you figure it out, you just haven't really figured it out.&nbsp; There's a big twist at the end, and it will keep you thinking about this book long after you're finished.&nbsp; You'll want to discuss it with others, so make sure you either read it in a book group, or have a friend or two read it. &nbsp; I haven't read Cate Holahan's first novel, <b><i>The Widower's Wife</i></b>, but I'm certainly adding it to my list.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">A big thank you to Crooked Lane for a review copy of this novel.&nbsp; I would have passed it by in the library or bookstore, but now I've got a great book to recommend. &nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Rating:&nbsp; 5/6 for a twisty plot that blurs reality and fiction.&nbsp; Marital relationships, that "perfect couple", those secrets that sometimes lie down deep, just waiting to pounce.&nbsp; A thriller folks will gulp down.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif;">Available in hardcover September 12 in the U.S. Also will be available as an e-book and audio book. &nbsp; </span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-717144177751870507.post-2669767558814211212017-08-31T07:57:00.000-05:002017-08-31T07:57:52.020-05:00The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-WukyoSdPM/WaeFVof20SI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/HjcR_ewLPmE-uWB7ak6evg9WzsPK9hRlACLcBGAs/s1600/32075861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-WukyoSdPM/WaeFVof20SI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/HjcR_ewLPmE-uWB7ak6evg9WzsPK9hRlACLcBGAs/s400/32075861.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It can be a good thing when you check out a library book that has other people waiting for it: it makes you read really fast because you can't renew it and extend your time. I fear if I'd had more time to read <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Essex Serpent</i>&nbsp;I may have called it quits and never finished it. As it was, I stayed up late&nbsp;last night and am happy to say I turned the last page and now know the story of the Essex Serpent.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have to say this wasn't the novel I expected; I blame myself for not paying too much attention to other people's reviews. &nbsp;My curiosity was taken by the story of a woman in search of a mythical creature that may or may not exist. There is so much more to Sarah Perry's novel; it took me in a very different direction. Why do we believe in mythical creatures? What does it do to test our belief systems, and our faith in God? &nbsp;Why would such creatures exist, except to punish us for our transgressions? People are quick to blame every bad accident, death, or crop failure on that unknown thing. We are being punished&nbsp;because we're bad, somehow. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Victorian England, Cora Seaborne is newly widowed, and leaves London to&nbsp;travel to Essex with her companion Martha and her young son Francis. &nbsp;Fascinated by fossils, nature, and geology, Cora is finally free to pursue her interests with wild abandon. Rumors of a sea serpent in Blackwater have begun to make the people of Aldwinter, the village near Blackwater, very uncomfortable. &nbsp;They turn to William Ransome, the village rector, to provide comfort and explanations. &nbsp;Through friends, William and Cora connect, and she's invited down to Aldwinter to visit William and his wife and children. &nbsp;Here begins the real story: &nbsp;William&nbsp;and Cora. &nbsp;Fast friends,&nbsp;they find a shared interest in nature, and enjoy arguing with each other. &nbsp;It's pretty obvious they fall in love, but neither is fully aware. &nbsp;Williams' wife, Stella, is a lovely woman suffering from tuberculosis. &nbsp;Cora loves Stella, and does her utmost to ignore her growing feelings for William. &nbsp;It's an interesting love triangle; Stella sees the closeness of her husband and friend, and is happy he has someone to share his interests with; Cora dresses as mannish as possible to keep any femininity at bay. &nbsp;William loves his wife and only understands he loves Cora in one lightning moment, months into their friendship. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, Martha is involved in solving housing issues for the poor in London, and has convinced a wealthy doctor to become part of the solution. &nbsp;There's also Luke Garrett, another London surgeon madly&nbsp;in love with Cora, but those feelings aren't returned. &nbsp;His story starts out slow, but towards the end of the novel, he becomes more of a focus. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I spent a lot of time&nbsp;trying to pull all of the pieces of this plot together. &nbsp;I'm sure I'm missing something because I don't have anyone to help me pick apart the storyline. &nbsp;What I did see was the evolution of England and its people from a place of old beliefs and superstitions to an industrialized nation focused on money and the "machine". &nbsp;It is the background to this story; and I felt a bit melancholy reading this--it felt like an ode to a way of&nbsp;life that will never be again. &nbsp;William is the anchor to the old way of life for the people of Aldwinter, and he can't explain why the creature exists, and what it wants. &nbsp;He grapples with spirit versus nature. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So is there actually an Essex serpent? &nbsp;You do get this answer, and it's pretty fantastic. &nbsp;I won't spoil it, but I loved it. &nbsp;And I won't tell you what happens to the multiple love&nbsp;triangles,&nbsp;because that's for you to discover. &nbsp;Yes, there is more than one love triangle! &nbsp;Sarah Perry's writing is so so good. &nbsp;I could smell the salt air, the mud and clay; I could see the forests and feel the damp breeze. You feel a bit of a naturalist yourself reading Cora's adventure. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rating: &nbsp;4/6 for a very different Victorian tale about faith, belief, the unknown, love, freedom, the astonishing natural world around us, and our struggle to balance what we know with the unknown.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Available in hardcover, e-book, audio book, and large print. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sue G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06796747936772028681noreply@blogger.com1